Brain's frontal lobes electrical activity may be impacted by COVID-19 infection
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes, according to researchers' estimates. In a comprehensive review of 617 patients, authors from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh identified common EEG abnormalities among those with neurological symptoms related to COVID-19.
The review, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, reveals that the most common findings were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Notably, the extent of these EEG abnormalities appeared to correlate with the severity of the disease and preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
"We know that 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," explains Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors.
Approximately one-third of the abnormal EEG findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading Haneef to suggest that EEG tests and other imaging modalities, such as MRI or CT scans, be considered more frequently for patients with COVID-19 neurological symptoms.
However, it's important to note that the virus may not be solely responsible for the observed damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also contribute to EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The study uncovered "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the brain in nearly 70% of patients. This finding raises concerns about the potential long-term effects of the virus on cognitive function. Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now called "long COVID." Among these is "brain fog."
A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they were infected. The authors suggest that the infection may age people cognitively by around a decade. However, experts caution that this study does not definitively prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline but does highlight concerns about possible lasting effects on the brain.
On a positive note, the study found that 56.8% of patients showed improvements when given follow-up EEG tests. Yet, several limitations were noted in the analysis, including lack of access to raw data from individual studies, potential skewing due to disproportionately more EEGs being performed on patients with neurological symptoms, and the potential impact of anti-seizure medications on the interpretation of EEG results.
In conclusion, EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms are primarily characterized by slowing and epileptiform features, correlating closely with disease severity and exacerbated by preexisting neurological conditions. These findings highlight the importance of EEG monitoring in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of COVID-19-associated neurological involvement.
- Researchers have estimated that about 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as epilepsy seizures, headaches, confusion, and strokes.
- The study, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, found that EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms are primarily characterized by slowing and epileptiform features, which may be exacerbated by preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- One-third of the abnormal EEG findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading researchers to suggest that EEG tests and other imaging modalities, such as MRI or CT scans, be considered more frequently for patients with COVID-19 neurological symptoms.
- While the virus may not be solely responsible for the observed damage, the study's findings raised concerns about the potential long-term effects of the virus on cognitive function, including mental health and health-and-wellness symptoms like "brain fog."
