Brain's Frontal Lobes Disrupted by COVID-19: Electrical Activity Halted
COVID-19 unveils a chilling side, creeping into the vulnerable frontal lobes of the brain, as evident in numerous EEG tests. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology at Baylor College of Medicine, sheds light on this eerie connection.
Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients grapple with neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. To scrutinize how the virus interacts with brain matter, researchers scrutinized 617 EEG results from 84 separate studies. The average age of patients tested was 61.3, with a two-thirds majority being males.
The most prevalent findings disclosed by this examination were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Remarkably, over a third of these abnormalities were found in the frontal lobes, which is closely adjacent to the primary entry point of the virus – the nose. Interestingly, the extent of EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
However, it's essential to note that the virus may not be solely responsible for the brain damage. Systemic effects of the infection, like inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusual blood stickiness, and cardiac arrest, might play a part in EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
The researchers also identified "diffuse slowing" in the global background electrical activity of the brain in almost 70% of patients. There's an increasing concern about ongoing health problems reported by those who have recovered from COVID-19, colloquially known as 'long COVID.' Among these problems is 'brain fog,' causing mental sluggishness.
Recent studies suggest that the infection may accelerate cognitive aging, resulting in reduced performance on cognitive tests. While no concrete evidence proves long-term cognitive decline due to COVID-19, the findings signify potential long-term implications for brain health.
According to Dr. Haneef, the EEG abnormalities linked to COVID-19's neurological symptoms amplify these concerns. He emphasized that many patients might experience lasting neurological issues, a hypothesis that gathers momentum with more evidence being uncovered.
On a positive note, nearly 57% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests displayed improvements. However, the study's analysis had limitations, such as lack of access to raw data, underreporting of normal EEGs, performing disproportionately more EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms, and the overuse of anti-seizure medications that may have masked signs of seizures in EEG traces.
To dive deeper into the labyrinthine world of COVID-19 and the brain, stay tuned for more updates. Better yet, consult our coronavirus hub for the latest information on COVID-19.
- The connection between COVID-19 and the brain is alarming, as the virus can trigger neurological symptoms like seizures, headaches, and strokes in severe cases.
- A study scrutinizing EEG results from COVID-19 patients revealed that over a third of abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes, the area adjacent to the primary entry point of the virus – the nose.
- The extent of EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
- Long-term concerns about brain health are rising due to the potential long-term implications of COVID-19, such as 'long COVID' symptoms like brain fog, cognitive aging, and ongoing mental health issues.
