COVID-19 Infections Potential to Alter Electrical Functioning in Frontal Lobes of the Brain
A Deep Dive into COVID-19 and the Brain:
The pandemic has shed light on numerous aspects of the human body's response to the virus, and the brain is no exception. A significant number of patients with severe COVID-19 cases managing neurological symptoms exhibit peculiarities in their brain waves, as proven by electroencephalography (EEG) tests.
The Lowdown on COVID Brain Abnormalities:
Reports suggest that roughly 15-25% of patients with intense COVID-19 confront neurological issues, such as headaches, confusion, and seizures. Medical professionals might recommend EEG tests for patients experiencing such symptoms. This test involves placing electrodes onto the scalp to monitor the electrical activity of the brain.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have gathered and analyzed data from over 600 patients who underwent EEGs due to their COVID symptoms. Interestingly, the study found that about one-third of the abnormalities surfaced in the frontal lobes of the brain. This area is situated next to the nose, which is believed to be the most probable entry point for the virus.
A Closer Look at the Frontal Lobes:
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, shares insights on this matter. "Given that the virus likely enters through the nose, it seems plausible that it could impact the frontal lobes due to their close proximity," he explains.
He further emphasizes that more EEG tests, along with other brain imaging methods like MRI and CT scans, should be conducted on a broader spectrum of patients to gain a clearer understanding of COVID's impact on the brain, particularly the frontal lobe.
Moving Beyond the Frontal Lobe:
The study also discovered "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of almost 70% of patients. This pattern indicates a degree of overall brain dysfunction. However, it's essential to recognize that the virus may not be the sole cause of all the damage. Systemic effects of the illness, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, might contribute to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
Brain Fog and Long COVID:
Recovered COVID-19 patients have reported experiencing ongoing health issues, often referred to as "long COVID." Among these is "brain fog." A recent research study, yet to be peer-reviewed, demonstrated that individuals who believe they have had COVID-19 performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not think they had contracted the virus.
These findings bolster concerns about long-term effects on the brain, and Dr. Haneef agrees. "While many individuals think they'll recover from COVID-19 and return to normal, these findings imply that there could be long-term issues. This aligns with our suspicions, and it appears we now have more evidence to support it," he concludes.
On a positive note, around 57% of patients showed improvements in their follow-up EEG tests, demonstrating that there might still be some degree of hope for long-term recovery.
[1] source: https://www.todays medicalclinics.com/hub/coronavirus-covid-19/eea-abnormalities-in-covid-19-related-neurological-symptoms
For a comprehensive breakdown of common EEG findings relating to COVID-19 and their correlation with disease severity and pre-existing neurological conditions, you can access the enrichment data section provided below.
Enrichment Data:[Hidden for brevity. Refer to the base article for the enrichment data table.]
- The study conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh found that about one-third of the abnormalities surfaced in the frontal lobes of the brain among COVID-19 patients who underwent EEG tests.
- Researchers also discovered 'diffuse slowing' in the background electrical activity of almost 70% of COVID-19 patients, indicating a degree of overall brain dysfunction, which might not be solely attributable to the virus itself but could be due to systemic effects of the illness.
- In a recent research study, individuals who believed they had contracted COVID-19 performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not think they had the virus, highlighting the potential long-term effects on the brain, especially in relation to 'brain fog' and 'long COVID'.
