Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19 and Brain Abnormalities: A Study Suggests a Link to Frontal Lobe Dysfunction
Recent research has indicated that neurological symptoms are prevalent among patients with severe COVID-19, and a review of various studies points to abnormalities in the frontal lobes as a possible correlation.
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience complications such as headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. To further understand how the virus affects the brain, researchers analyzed electrical activity in the brain through Electroencephalography (EEG) tests from 617 patients.
The most common findings were slowed brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain. The study revealed that the extent of EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions such as epilepsy.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, one of the study's co-authors, remarks that the virus may be entering the brain from the nose vicinity, making the frontal lobes a key area of interest.
It's important to note that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage observed, as systemic effects such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, abnormally sticky blood, and cardiac arrest might also contribute to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
The study also found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in nearly 70% of patients. While further research is needed to establish a definitive link between COVID-19 and specific EEG changes in the frontal lobes, the findings do suggest lasting effects on the brain for some patients, adding to concerns about long-term health issues related to the virus.
However, the researchers noted that improvements were observed in 56.8% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests. Limitations in the study, such asaccess to raw data and potential skewing of results due to disproportionate testing of patients with neurological symptoms, should be considered when interpreting the results.
In conclusion, while direct correlations between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes are not well-established, the study highlights the necessity for further research to understand the relationship between the virus and brain function, as neurological complications are becoming increasingly significant in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Science Media Centre, London[swe][CNN][MedRxiv][Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy][Baylor College of Medicine][University of Pittsburgh]
- The link between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms, such as seizures, impaired consciousness, and frontal lobe dysfunction, remains a topic of ongoing study, with a recent research suggesting a correlation.
- A study on COVID-19 and brain abnormalities revealed that the extent of Electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- As the pandemic continues, concerns about long-term health issues related to COVID-19 are growing, with this study finding lasting effects on the brain for some patients, including diffuse slowing in the background electrical activity of the whole brain.
- Given the increasing significance of neurological complications in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to conduct more research to further understand the relationship between the virus and brain function, including mental health and neurological disorders such as epilepsy.
