Brain's frontal lobes electrical activity may be adversely affected by COVID-19
Let's dive into the brainy business of COVID-19 and its impact on the noggin.
So, here's the scoop: Study finds that roughly a third of patients with COVID-19 and neurological symptoms display abnormalities in their brain activity, as revealed by EEG tests. But don't sweat it— we're still figuring out the exact connection between COVID-19 and these brain hiccups.
It's all about that frontal lobe action, folks. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, spills the beans:
That's right, miscreants, the virus potentially sets up shop right next to your ol' sniffer, leaving the frontal lobes in a bit of a pickle. So, medics reckon it's prime time to start runnin' EEG tests on a wider range of patients and checking out their frontal lobes with fancy brain imaging techniques like MRIs and CT scans.
Now, let's talk long COVID. As if battling the virus ain't enough, folks who've recovered from COVID-19 are reportin' persisting issues, like old man-level brain fog. A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to those who never caught the bug. The researchers think the infection might age your noggin by a whole decade!
But don't fret— Dr. Haneef and the gang report that over half of patients demonstrated improvements during follow-up EEG tests. However, there are some limitations to their research. Some doctors may have omitted regular, normal EEGs when reporting their results, and they may have been dishing out anti-seizure meds like candy, potentially skewing the results.
In summary, kiddos: We need more research to fully understand the link between COVID-19, frontal lobe abnormalities, and brain fog. But, as of now, we're seeing a connection between brain-related COVID-19 symptoms and frontal lobe issues, so it's essential to keep an eye on things. Now, I'm off to watch a few episodes of Breaking Bad, because who doesn't need a little brain-twisting entertainment after all that science stuff, aye?
The coronavirus, in connection with neurological conditions, has been shown to affect a third of patients with COVID-19 symptoms, as revealed by electroencephalography (EEG) tests. The virus may establish itself near the nose, leading to potential abnormalities in the frontal lobes, a significant area of the brain.
Recovered COVID-19 patients have reported persistent issues, such as brain fog, raising concerns about long-term effects on mental health and cognitive abilities. A study showed individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed poorly on a cognitive test, suggesting the virus may age the brain by a decade.
While improvements have been observed in some patients during follow-up EEG tests, limitations in the current research call for further investigation. Some doctors might omit regular EEGs and over-prescribe anti-seizure medications, factors that could potentially impact the results.
The scientific community is working diligently to unravel the intricate connection between COVID-19, frontal lobe abnormalities, brain fog, and health-and-wellness issues. It is crucial to continue EEG tests and brain imaging techniques like MRIs and CT scans to gather more accurate data.
The recent findings highlight the need for ongoing research to better address COVID-19's impact on mental health, neurological disorders, epilepsy seizures, and other medical-related conditions. The investigations into COVID-19's brain-related symptoms will continue, ensuring we maintain our focus on health-and-wellness and mental health as we navigate this global pandemic.
