Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Review of Studies Reveals Link Between COVID-19 and Brain Abnormalities
Native Texan research team, along with their University of Pittsburgh counterparts, unearthed a striking association between COVID-19 affliction and troubling brain abnormalities, as highlighted by EEG tests.
Here's a sneak peek into the tale of the tape:
- Cases Under Review: 84 studies involving 617 patients compiled into a single, riveting tome.
- Age Range: The study population skewed older, with a median age of 61.3 years. Two-thirds were male.
- Common Findings: The researchers identified a couple of recurring themes — sluggish brain activity and unbalanced electrical firings in the brain.
- Severity Factor: The extent of EEG abnormalities directly correlated with the gravity of the disease and any pre-existing neurological conditions, like epilepsy.
But let's look at the elephant in the room, shall we? Where does the coronavirus rally its forces to launch these assaults on our gray matter?
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, Assistant Professor of Neurology/Neurophysiology at Baylor, sheds some light on the subject:
His words ring true; after all, the frontal lobes, nestled right next to the olfactory bulbs, seem to bear the brunt of the infection. Why? Evidence suggests that the virus may infiltrate brain tissue by hijacking the olfactory nerves[1].
However, the virus might not be solely responsible for all the damage. Other factors, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, thickened blood, and cardiac arrest, could add fuel to the fire and spread EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
COVID-19's paradigm-shifting effects don't stop there. Many recovered patients struggle with its long-term consequences, including brain fog, memory issues, and emotional disturbances. Some of them endure these symptoms for months on end[1].
In a recent, yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, posted on MedRxiv, the cognitive performance of alleged COVID patients was compared to that of folks who didn't believe they had acquired the virus during a cognitive test. The results indicate that the infection seems to age people's cognitive abilities by roughly a decade[2].
With concerns mounting about long-lasting effects on the brain, Dr. Haneef voices his concerns:
On a brighter note, the researchers report that 56.8% of patients displayed improvement upon follow-up EEG exams. But there were limitations to the study, such as limited access to individual study data, potential underreporting of normal EEGs, and overrepresentation of patients with neurological symptoms[2].
If you're craving more nitty-gritty details on COVID-19, our coronavirus hub has got you covered[3].
Sources:
- EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 infection
- COVID-19 and Chronic Cognitive Deficits: Evidence from a Longitudinal Analysis of Prospective Cohorts
- HCWs and COVID-19 – Lessons Learned and Opportunities for Improvement
- The review of 84 studies on COVID-19 revealed a link between the coronavirus and brain abnormalities, as demonstrated by electroencephalography (EEG) tests.
- The study population consisted of 617 patients, with a median age of 61.3 years, and two-thirds were male.
- Common findings in the studies included slow brain activity and unbalanced electrical firing in the brain.
- The extent of EEG abnormalities corresponded with the severity of the disease and any pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
- The coronavirus may infiltrate brain tissue by targeting the olfactory nerves, which could explain why the frontal lobes, near the olfactory bulbs, are often affected.
- Long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain, such as brain fog, memory issues, and emotional disturbances, have been reported in some recovered patients, and a recent study suggests that the infection could age cognitive abilities by about a decade.
