Brain's Frontal Lobes Experiencing Electrical Disturbances Due to COVID-19
Grilling the Grey Matter: COVID-19's Impact on the Brain Unveiled through EEG Tests
Here's a lowdown on the brainy business going on with COVID-19 patients, straight from the scalp electrodes - also known as electroencephalography (EEG) tests.
The Skinny on COVID-19 & Neurological Symptoms
Got COVID-19? You might cop some headaches, confusion, delirium, or seizures - and that's just the start. Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases may see these neurological symptoms in action. Doctors send symptomatic patients off for EEG testing, where they slap a bunch of electrodes on the scalp to check out the brain's electrical activity.
Bustin' Brain Waves: EEG Insights into COVID-19's Brain Impact
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh decided to get a closer look at the brain action in COVID-19. They examined EEG results from 617 patients across 84 studies, ranging in age from 20 to 98, with a median age of 61.3 years and overwhelmingly dudes (66.2% male).
The EEG findings? Sluggish brain waves and weird electrical discharges were the order of the day. The weirder the EEG results, the worse the disease - oh, and any preexisting neurological condition, like epilepsy, doesn't help matters.
Front Lobe Focus: Infection or Systemic Effects?
Think the virus is causing all these brain shenanigans? Think again. Systemic effects from the infection, like inflammation, low oxygen levels, and sticky blood, might also play a role in the EEG abnormalities that cropped up beyond just the frontal lobes. The most significant findings were in the frontal lobes - apparently, the most likely pathway for the virus is the nose, located right next to this brain region.
Long COVID: Brain Fog & Beyond
Recovered from COVID-19 but still experiencing odd health issues? A phenomenon known as long COVID could be to blame, and "brain fog" is a common symptom. A recent, unreviewed study saw individuals with self-reported COVID-19 perform poorly on a cognitive test compared to those without a virus diagnosis. This suggests the infection might age cognitive function by around a decade.
On the positive side, almost 6 out of 10 patients with follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, there were limitations to the study, such as lack of access to individual patient data, potential skewing by focusing on patients with neurological symptoms, and possible obscuring of seizure signs due to medication.
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Key Findings
- Severe COVID-19 cases often involve neurological symptoms, such as seizures, encephalitis, and encephalopathy, caused by direct viral effects, inflammation, or secondary complications like stroke or cerebral vasculitis.
- EEG abnormalities, like slow brain waves and disappearance of the alpha rhythm, are indicative of impaired brain function and often spotted in patients with severe COVID-19.
- EEG findings correlate with COVID-19 severity and neurological symptoms, revealing the virus's impact on the brain.
- Long-term neurological consequences of COVID-19 are a significant concern, with some patients experiencing persistent neurological symptoms or cognitive impairments.
- Severe cases of coronavirus can lead to neurological symptoms such as seizures, encephalitis, and encephalopathy, which could be due to direct viral effects, inflammation, or secondary complications like stroke or cerebral vasculitis.
- Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases may display neurological symptoms.
- EEG tests, which measure the brain's electrical activity, are used to check for neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients.
- Long COVID, a phenomenon where recovered patients experience long-term health issues, can include symptoms like brain fog, which may be the result of cognitive impairments.
- Researchers suggest that the virus's impact on the brain can be seen through EEG findings, which often show slow brain waves and the disappearance of the alpha rhythm, indicative of impaired brain function.
- The correlation between EEG findings, COVID-19 severity, and neurological symptoms reveals the virus's significant impact on mental health, neurological disorders, and overall health-and-wellness.
