COVID-19 and the Brain: EEG Abnormalities in Patients
Exploring the Effects of Coronavirus on the Nervous System
Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Researchers have found that over a third of patients who underwent EEG tests for neurological symptoms related to COVID-19 had abnormalities in their frontal lobes, hinting at a potential link between the virus and brain health, as detailed in a recent study published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.
The Link Between Brain Abnormalities and the Virus
The likelihood of an infection entering the body through the nose raises curiosity about the proximity of this entry point to the frontal lobes. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, explains, "With the virus entering the body through the nose, it seems there's a connection between the part of the brain that is right next to that entry point."
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on the Brain
While the virus could be directly responsible for the damage, it's also possible that systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest, contribute to EEG abnormalities extending beyond the frontal lobes.
The study identified "diffuse slowing" in approximately 70% of patients, affecting the whole brain's background electrical activity.
Long COVID and Brain Fog
Recovered COVID-19 patients have reported ongoing health issues like brain fog. A recent cross-sectional study found that those who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to individuals who did not believe they contracted the virus, suggesting an aging effect on cognition.
Though this study does not definitively prove a long-term cognitive decline due to the infection, it highlights concerns about the virus's impacts on the brain. Dr. Haneef agrees, noting that EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 add to these concerns.
Potential for Recovery
Despite the grim picture painted by these findings, half of the patients who received follow-up EEG tests showed improvements, offering a glimmer of hope for those experiencing neurological symptoms.
While the study had several limitations, including access to raw data from individual studies and potential skewing of results due to selective EEG testing, it provides valuable insights into the neurological impacts of COVID-19.
The Future of Neuroscience Research
As more research is conducted and understanding of the various factors contributing to neurological symptoms in COVID-19 grows, scientists will be better equipped to address the long-term health concerns associated with the virus.
- Although the study did not prove long-term cognitive decline, it highlights concerns about COVID-19's impact on mental health, specifically brain fog.
- The study suggests a potential link between COVID-19 and sleep disorders, as diffuse slowing, an abnormality affecting the whole brain's background electrical activity, was identified in approximately 70% of patients.
- In addition to brain health, researchers are also investigating the potential effects of COVID-19 on other medical conditions such as epilepsy and seizures, given the EEG abnormalities found in patients.
- As part of a holistic approach to health-and-wellness, the role of nutrition in supporting brain health during and after COVID-19 is becoming an area of interest for medical scientists, including the potential benefits of supplements like CBD for neurological disorders.
- While the immediate focus is on understanding the virus's effects on the brain, some researchers are already looking toward the future, exploring the possibility of COVID-19's impact on aging processes and cognitive decline.
- Given the potential neurological impacts of COVID-19, fitness-and-exercise recommendations are being adapted to provide support for both physical and brain health, particularly in recovery phases.
- As the world grapples with the ongoing pandemic, scientists in environmental-science are studying potential connections between climate-change and COVID-19, including whether environmental factors could contribute to the development or severity of neurological symptoms.
- With the growing recognition of COVID-19 as a complex disease affecting various aspects of health, space-and-astronomy researchers are even investigating the virus's impact on the astronauts' mental health and cognitive functions, as part of long-duration space missions.
