Brain's frontal lobes can experience disruption in electrical activity due to COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 ain't just a lung buster; it's creeping its way into the brain too, and researchers are starting to uncover some freaky stuff.
Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases may induce neurological symptoms like headaches, confusion, delirium, and strokes. If you're feeling this way, docs might suggest an EEG test, where they stick electrodes all over your dome to monitor your brain's electrical activities.
Scientists from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies. The most common findings? Slowed brain waves and abnormal electric discharges, mostly in the frontal lobes. As you might've guessed, this area is right next to the nose—the likely entry point for the virus.
While the virus might not be directly responsible for all the damage, systemic effects of the infection like inflammation, low oxygen levels, and heart issues could be playing a role. The researchers found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients, too.
Now, some COVID-19 survivors report lingering health issues, like "brain fog." A recent study found that those who claim to have had COVID-19 Scored lower on an online cognitive test compared to folks who didn't believe they contracted the virus. Experts suggest that this could indicate cognitive aging by around a decade.
"But wait, there's more," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor. "These findings tell us that there might be long-term issues. A lot of folks think they'll get sick, recover, and be back to normal, but we're finding evidence that suggests otherwise."
On the flip side, the study's authors reported that nearly 57% of patients showed signs of improvement during follow-up EEG tests. The research had its limitations, though. They didn't have access to raw data, might've missed normal EEGs, and could've performed disproportionately more EEGs on patients with symptoms, possibly skewing the results.
Long story short, the picture is still unclear, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that COVID-19 ain't just messing with your lungs—it might be leaving some lasting impacts on your brain as well. Keep an eye on those COVID-19 updates and make sure to take care of your noggin, too!
- COVID-19 isn't limited to affecting the lungs; it's also infiltrating the brain, and researchers are starting to reveal unsettling findings.
- Seventeen to twenty-five percent of severe COVID-19 cases may provoke neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, delirium, and strokes.
- In a study, scientists discovered that sluggish brain waves and irregular electric discharges are common occurrences in COVID-19 patients, often in the frontal lobes, which are adjacent to the nose.
- While the virus might not directly damage all the brain structures, systemic consequences like inflammation, low oxygen levels, and heart problems could be causing indirect harm.
- The researchers found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the entire brain in nearly 70% of patients, indicating potential long-term neurological consequences.
- Some COVID-19 survivors have reported lingering health issues, such as "brain fog," and a recent study found that those who claim to have had COVID-19 scored lower on an online cognitive test, suggesting cognitive aging by around a decade. However, it's suggested that these findings imply longer-term implications on mental health and neurological disorders, not just immediate health-and-wellness issues.
