Autoimmune encephalitis during the COVID-19 pandemic

This research study examines the incidence and severity of autoantibody-associated autoimmune encephalitis (AE) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a prepandemic period. Using data from 24 medical centers, researchers found that new hospital cases of AE actually decreased between 2020 and 2022, particularly those involving neuronal surface antibodies. The analysis suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination are not major triggers for this specific neurological condition, as disease severity, age, and sex distribution remained stable across both timeframes. Experts believe the observed decline in cases may have resulted from reduced hospital referrals or social distancing measures rather than a true drop in biological occurrence. Ultimately, the findings refute the hypothesis that the pandemic caused a surge in clinically definite autoimmune CNS diseases.