Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Revamping the Narrative: COVID-19's Impact on the Brain
Several research studies suggest a connection between COVID-19 and abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain as detected through Electroencephalography (EEG) tests among patients exhibiting neurological symptoms.
Coronavirus Insights
Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, strokes, and impaired consciousness. When confronted with such symptoms, doctors may recommend EEG testing, where electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor brain activity.
COVID-19, Brain, and the Nose
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, accompanied by 84 studies. The median age of the patients was 61.3 years, and more than two-thirds were male. The study found that around a third of the identified abnormalities were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading to speculation about the virus's potential link to the frontal lobe.
According to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, "The most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, so there seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to that entry point."
The Virus Beyond the Frontal Lobe
Although the virus may cause direct damage in the frontal lobe, it's essential to consider other factors. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and unusual blood properties, might contribute to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobe.
The study reported "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients.
Post-COVID Brain Fog and Long-Term Effects
Some individuals recovering from COVID-19 experience ongoing health problems, often referred to as long COVID. Among these issues is the increased reports of "brain fog."
According to a recent study, individuals claiming to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus. The research suggests that the infection might have caused up to a decade of age-related cognitive decline.
While this study raises concerns about long-term brain effects, it does not definitively prove this correlation. However, the existence of EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19-related neurological symptoms adds to these apprehensions.
"A lot of people think they will get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal, but these findings tell us that there might be long-term issues, which is something we have suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up," says Dr. Haneef.
On a positive note, the study found that 56.8% of patients showed improvements during follow-up EEG tests.
Limitations and Caveats
The study acknowledges several limitations, including the lack of access to raw data from individual studies, potential omissions of normal EEGs, and the over representation of EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms. Additionally, doctors administering anti-seizure medications to suspected seizure patients may have concealed signs of seizures in their EEG traces.
In short, while there is evidence of EEG abnormalities in severe COVID-19 cases, especially in the frontal lobe, further research is required to establish a clear link between COVID-19 severity and EEG abnormalities across the entire brain.
[1] Original Article Link
[2] Case report detailing EEG abnormalities in a COVID-19 patient: Source Link
[3] Research indicating altered brain connectivity in patients with persistent COVID-19 symptoms: Source Link
- Despite some improvements, a significant number of recovered COVID-19 patients might still experience long-term health conditions, such as "brain fog."
- EEG tests have revealed abnormalities in the brain activity of about 70% of COVID-19 patients, with diffuse slowing apparent in the background electrical activity of the whole brain.
- Epilepsy seizures have been observed among severe COVID-19 patients, and the connection between COVID-19 and these neurological symptoms is yet to be fully established through scientific research.
