The Impact of COVID-19 on Brain Function: Exploring EEG Abnormalities in the Frontal Lobe
Brain's frontal lobes' electrical activity may be affected by COVID-19.
A growing body of research suggests that patients with neurological symptoms related to COVID-19 often show abnormalities in the frontal lobe of their brain, as detected by EEG tests.
COVID and Brain Abnormalities: A Spiking Trend
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 can experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, and seizures. To investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported across 84 studies.
EEG Insights: Slowing and Irregularities
The median age of patients in this analysis was 61.3 years, and the majority were male. The researchers identified common findings such as the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Notably, they found that the extent of EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and any pre-existing neurological conditions.
Frontal Lobe Focus: A Potential Entrypoint?
Over a third of these abnormalities were found in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study's co-authors, to speculate about the virus's possible entry point. Given that the most likely way the virus enters the body is through the nose, Haneef suggests there may be a connection between the virus entering and affecting the nearby frontal lobe.
Beyond Frontal Lobe Abnormalities
The study also found that "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain was present in nearly 70% of patients. The authors note that it's possible the virus itself is not responsible for all the damage, and that systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation and low oxygen levels, could also play a role in the EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Cognitive Decline and Ongoing Health Issues
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 report lingering health problems, collectively referred to as "long COVID." One of these ongoing issues is "brain fog." A recent study found that those who claim to have had COVID-19 did worse on an online cognitive test than those who hadn't experienced the virus, potentially indicating long-term cognitive decline. However, this study has not been peer-reviewed or published.
Addressing the Concerns
The correlations between EEG abnormalities and COVID-19's neurological symptoms add fuel to the concerns about lingering effects on the brain. Dr. Haneef emphasizes the importance of conducting further studies to better understand the potential long-term issues related to COVID-19. On a promising note, the authors of the EEG study found that improvements were seen in 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests.
The Bigger Picture
As our understanding of COVID-19's impact on the brain continues to evolve, it's crucial to delve deeper into the potential consequences, particularly when it comes to cognitive function and the role of EEG tests. Future studies employing EEG to focus specifically on frontal lobe abnormalities in COVID-19 patients may help elucidate the precise connection between these two areas.
- The study on EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients revealed that approximately 15-25% of severe cases could exhibit neurological symptoms, including epilepsy seizures and confusion.
- As the research into COVID-19's impact on the brain progresses, it's become increasingly apparent that the coronavirus can lead to various mental-health issues, such as cognitive decline and "brain fog."
- Interestingly, the study conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh found that over one-third of EEG abnormalities were localized in the frontal lobes of patients, hinting at a potential entry point for the virus.
- In addition to frontal lobe abnormalities, the study also detected "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in nearly 70% of the patients, suggesting that the virus's effects on neurological-disorders might not be limited to specific areas of the brain.
- To shed more light on the potential long-term consequences of COVID-19 on brain function, Dr. Haneef and his colleagues are urging the scientific community to conduct further tests and research on this critical health-and-wellness topic.
- As the understanding of COVID-19's neurological impact grows, comprehensive evaluation of patients' electroencephalography (EEG) results could potentially serve as a valuable tool in addressing and addressing various mental-health conditions and neurological-disorders associated with the disease.
