Brain's frontal lobe electrical activity can be disrupted due to COVID-19 infection.
Titles:* neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients linked to brain abnormalities* EEG tests reveal brain abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms* new study finds brain abnormalities in severe COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms
A review of research has suggested that abnormalities in the front of the brain, detected by electroencephalography (EEG) tests, are common among patients who experience neurological symptoms as a result of COVID-19.
The study, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients reported in 84 different studies. The median age of patients who underwent an EEG was 61.3 years, and two-thirds were males.
The most common findings that the researchers identified were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The extent of the EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and whether the patients had preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the co-authors of the study, suggested that this could be because the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, which is located directly next to the frontal lobe.
The virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
According to experts, this finding adds to concerns about lasting effects on the brain for people who have recovered from COVID-19, an issue known as long COVID. Some recent studies have suggested that individuals who have had COVID-19 may perform less well on cognitive tests, potentially indicating a decline in cognitive function.
On a positive note, the authors of the study reported that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had some limitations, including a lack of access to raw data from individual studies and the possibility of skewed results due to doctors performing more EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms.
In conclusion, the study provides evidence of EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19, adding to concerns about potential long-term effects on the brain. More research is needed to clarify the relationships between COVID-19 severity, EEG markers, and specific brain regions.
Enrichment Data:* The review analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, including pediatric and adult cases, and found EEG abnormalities such as diffuse slowing, epileptiform discharges, and brain death patterns in severe instances.* COVID-19 may provoke a robust inflammatory response, leading to neuroinflammation and cerebral edema, which could contribute to the observed EEG abnormalities.* Elevated biomarkers like pro-BNP and CSF markers (LDH and protein) in severe cases may reflect systemic and cerebral stress, compounding neurological injury and EEG abnormalities.
- The research review indicates that individuals with neurological symptoms due to COVID-19 often exhibit brain abnormalities, as detected by EEG tests, including slowing of brain waves and epileptiform discharges.
- The study published in Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, revealed that around a third of EEG abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes of the brain, with COVID-19 possibly entering through the nose, which is adjacent to the frontal lobe.
- Long-term effects on the brain, known as long COVID, are a growing concern, as recent studies suggest that individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 may experience cognitive decline, potentially indicating a decrease in mental health and neurological disorders.
- Although some improvements were observed in subsequent EEG tests for a majority of patients, more research is needed to fully understand the relationships between COVID-19 severity, EEG markers, and specific brain regions, to better address healthcare and health-and-wellness concerns related to mental health, neurological disorders, and epilepsy seizures.
