Paradigm shift and future challenges in autoimmune encephalitis
HONG Zhen
Abstract：The field of autoimmune encephalitis(AE)has undergone a profound paradigm shift in diagnosis and treatment over the past decade.Previously considered a rare and difficult-to-recognize condition,AE is now established as a major category of inflammatory central nervous system diseases.This evolution has fundamentally changed how neurologists evaluate acute encephalitis,new-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms,and rapidly progressive cognitive dysfunction.The driving force behind this shift has been the ongoing discovery of specific neural autoantibodies,together with refined characterization of their associated clinical syndromes and underlying pathology mechanisms.Despite these advances,several challenges remain.Key issues include diagnosing seronegative AE,balancing standardized and individualized treatment strategies,and managing long-term cognitive and psychiatric sequelae.This article systematically reviews the major developments underlying this paradigm shift,analyzes the core challenges currently confronting the field,and outlines future directions for achieving more precise and comprehensive patients management.
Keywords：EncephalitisAutoimmune diseases of the nervous systemAutoantibodiesPrecision medicineReview
Publication Date：2025-12-25
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-23(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 1087-1094 )