Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity May Face Disruption Due to COVID-19
Fresh Perspective on COVID-19's Impact on the Brain
Brain abnormalities in COVID-19 patients are quite common, especially those exhibiting neurological symptoms. According to recent research, roughly 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases involve such neurological issues, which may range from headaches to seizures and strokes.
Doctors may opt for Electroencephalography (EEG) tests to check these neurological problems. EEG involves placing electrodes atop the scalp to gauge the brain's electrical activity.
A review published in the European Journal of Epilepsy analyzed EEG results from 617 patients collected from 84 studies. Researchers found an alarmingfrequency of slowed brain waves and irregular electrical discharges, with the frontal lobes facing the most damage.
"There seems to be a connection between the part of the brain located directly next to the virus's likely entry point — the nose — and the abnormal findings," explains Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine.
The researchers acknowledge that the virus might not be solely responsible for the damage, as systemic issues like inflammation, poor oxygen levels, sticky blood, and heart complications may also play a role in broader EEG abnormalities.
Some who've recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing ailments, branded as long COVID. This includes the enigmatic condition brain fog. A recent, unreviewed study on MedRxiv found that individuals claiming to have had COVID-19 performed worse on a cognitive test compared to those without such history.
Although this study doesn't conclusively show a causal link between infection and long-term cognitive decline, it raises concerns about lingering brain effects.
"The neurological symptoms of COVID-19, coupled with the EEG abnormalities, lend credence to these fears," says Dr. Haneef. "People might think they'll recover and return to normal, but our findings suggest there could be persistent issues."
Fortunately, close to 57% of patients showed improvements in their follow-up EEG tests. However, limitations in the study include the lack of access to individual study data, potential omissions of normal EEGs, and the administration of anti-seizure medications that may mask signs of seizures.
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- The study in the European Journal of Epilepsy found a high frequency of slowed brain waves and irregular electrical discharges in COVID-19 patients, suggesting potential neurological damage, particularly in the frontal lobes.
- The connection between coronavirus and abnormal EEG findings seems to be linked to the part of the brain located near the virus's likely entry point, the nose, as suggested by Dr. Zulfi Haneef.
- Mental health issues like brain fog, a part of long COVID, have been reported by some who've recovered from COVID-19, raising concerns about the potential long-term effects of the virus on brain health and wellness.
