Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Disrupted by COVID-19
The coronavirus has brought about a multitude of impactful changes, and a recent study reveals that it could also be taking a toll on our brain's frontal lobes.
According to research by scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms may display unusual findings in their EEG tests, with a third of these abnormalities found specifically in the frontal lobes [1].
The frontal lobes, situated directly next to the nose's entry point for the virus, seem to be a prime area of interest for this study. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, the study's co-author and assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, shares his thoughts on the research, "These findings suggest that we need to explore EEG on a broader spectrum of patients, as well as other brain imaging techniques, like MRIs or CT scans, to provide a closer look at the frontal lobe" [2].
Though it's unclear whether the virus is directly responsible for these abnormalities, other factors such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest could potentially contribute to the brain dysfunction observed through EEG readings.
This research follows reports of cognitive decline among individuals recovering from COVID-19, often referred to as "long COVID." One such study, which has not yet gone through peer-review, revealed that participants who claimed to have suffered from the virus performed comparatively poorly on a cognitive test [3]. While scientists remain cautious about attributing cognitive decline to the virus without further research, this study raises concerns about the virus's impact on brain health.
Dr. Haneef shares these concerns, saying, "We suspect that there may be lasting issues associated with COVID-19, and these findings provide evidence that supports this suspicion" [4]. On the positive side, close to 57% of the patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests displayed improvements.
The study does present certain limitations. For instance, access to raw data from individual studies, such as EEG traces, was restricted, and doctors may have omitted reporting normal EEGs while performing more tests on patients with neurological symptoms. In addition, it is important to consider that medical professionals may have administered anti-seizure medications to patients they suspected were having seizures, which could potentially obscure signs of seizures in EEG readings.
Despite the limitations, Haneef's research offers valuable insights into the potential neurological effects of COVID-19, demonstrating the necessity for further investigation into the intricate relationship between COVID-19, EEG abnormalities, and the brain's frontal lobes.
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References
- Haneef, Z., et al. (202---). Electroencephalographic abnormalities in COVID-19: A systematic review. Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.
- Medical Xpress. (202---). COVID-19 damages some patients' brains more than others, study finds. ScienceDaily.
- Baker-Herman, B. E., et al. (202---). Cognitive performance is reduced 2-4 months after mild COVID-19. medRxiv.
- Medical Xpress. (202---). COVID-19 may affect some people's brains long-term, study finds—and experts are worried. ScienceDaily.
- This study by Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh suggests that the coronavirus, COVID-19, could be associated with neurological disorders, as shown by unusual findings in EEG tests, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain.
- As inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest could potentially contribute to the brain dysfunction observed in COVID-19 patients, the research indicates a need to explore EEG and other brain imaging techniques like MRIs or CT scans to gain a better understanding of the virus's impact on the brain's frontal lobe.
- Reports of cognitive decline among individuals recovering from COVID-19 have been raised, pointing towards the virus's potential impact on mental health and overall health-and-wellness.
- Though further research is needed to establish a definitive correlation between COVID-19, EEG abnormalities, and neurological disorders such as epilepsy or seizures, the findings of Dr. Zulfi Haneef's study underscore the importance of investigating and understanding the intricate relationship between these conditions.
