COVID-19 Infection Potentially Affects Electrical Functions in Frontal Regions of the Brain
Revamped Report on COVID-19 and Brain Function
Shedding some light on the brainy side of the ongoing pandemic, recent studies suggest that COVID-19 patients might experience neurological troubles, often taking the form of headaches, confusion, or seizures. To delve deeper, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh examined EEG results from 617 patients across 84 different studies.
The study found that around a third of the ensuing abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes, a region directly neighboring the virus's most probable point of entry – the nose.
"Given the nose is the likely entry point for the virus, this implies a link," explains Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors. He adds, "To better comprehend the effects of the virus on the brain, we should consider administering EEG tests more often and running other imaging exams, like MRIs or CT scans, that offer a closer look into the frontal lobe."
However, it's important to note that the virus may not solely be responsible for all the brain damage observed. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest might incrementally contribute to EEG abnormalities that expand beyond the frontal lobes.
In the cross-sectional study, researchers discovered "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in nearly 70% of patients.
Complicating matters is the so-called "brain fog," a symptom reported by some survivors of COVID-19. A recent, yet unpublished study uploaded on MedRxiv found that people who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed worse on an online cognitive test than those without a virus diagnosis. The scientists proposed that the infection may have accelerated cognitive aging by up to a decade.
Although this preliminary study does not definitively prove the virus's role in long-term cognitive decline, it does necessitate further investigation into potential lasting brain effects.
"These findings add to our concerns about long-term issues that may persist after recovery from COVID-19," states Dr. Haneef. "Though we noticed improvements in 56.8% of patients following follow-up EEG tests, it's crucial to continue studying the relationship between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities."
With more research, hopefully, we'll better understand the relationship between COVID-19 and brain abnormalities, enabling healthcare providers to develop targeted treatments and improve patient care.
- The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic might lead to neurological issues, including seizures, for some patients, as suggested by recent studies.
- To research the impact of COVID-19 on the brain, doctors suggest administering EEG tests more frequently and utilizing additional imaging exams like MRIs or CT scans.
- A recent study discovered "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in nearly 70% of COVID-19 patients.
- In addition to neurological concerns, some COVID-19 survivors report experiencing "brain fog," and a preliminary study indicates that the virus may potentially lead to long-term cognitive decline, calling for further scientific investigation.
