IL‐1α, IL‐4, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were higher in pre‐AIDS brains compared to HIV‐negative controlsNeurocognitively impaired (NCI)/HIVE AIDS brains had lower levels of TNF‐α, and IL‐4 compared to pre‐AIDS brains.HIVE brains had higher levels of IL‐1α compared to pre‐AIDS brains.No differences were found for IL‐6 when comparing HIVE to pre‐AIDS brains. The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is AIDS.