The Flu Virus’s Covert Invasion of the Brain: Unraveling Acute Influenza-Associated Encephalopathy/Encephalitis

The pathogenesis of IAE is complex and not fully understood. It appears that both inflammation and viral infection of neurons may contribute to the development of IAE. In the central nervous system (CNS), elevated concentrations of cytokines and anti-influenza antibodies have been reported in patients with neurological complications of influenza virus infection. The presence of avian and human influenza virus receptors on neurons, astrocytes, and epithelial cells in the brain suggests that these cells are susceptible to infection by influenza virus.