TNF and infection: ,109 In summary, this more broadly idea is exposed in Fig. 3, proposing that in the acute phase of infection (weeks or months) IL-6 and TNF may take part in microbial control, but also contribute to behavioural and/or neurocognitive alterations, which may be total or partially recovered; however, long-lasting (years) systemic inflammation enriched in these cytokines may lead to long-term behavioural and neurocognitive changes.