A Deep Dive into the Impact of COVID-19 on the Brain: EEG Abnormalities in the Frontal Lobes
Brain's frontal lobes can experience electrical disruptions due to COVID-19
Research suggests that a significant number of patients experiencing neurological symptoms with COVID-19 exhibit abnormalities in their brain's electrical activity, as detected by electroencephalography (EEG) tests, particularly in the frontal lobes.
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Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. To better understand the relationship between the virus and the brain, researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies.
The most common findings that the researchers identified were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges, with around a third of the abnormalities occurring in the frontal lobes. It's worth noting that while specific studies directly linking COVID-19 to EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes may not be detailed in the research, SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to potentially affect the brain, particularly in regions like the temporal and frontal lobes[1].
"We know that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, so there seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to that entry point," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of two co-authors of the study.
However, it's essential to note that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
For instance, the study identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients. This find could be attributed to the systemic effects of the infection.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled long COVID. Among these is "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus. This study does not prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline but does highlight concerns about lasting effects on the brain[3].
"A lot of people think they will get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal, but these findings tell us that there might be long-term issues, which is something we have suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up," says Dr. Haneef.
On the positive side, the authors report that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, more research is needed to fully understand the extent of these neurological impacts and develop strategies for mitigating potential long-term consequences.
References:
[1] Murawski LD, Brito e Silva MD, Ferreira JMB. Structural MRI abnormalities in post COVID-19 patients: a systematic review. Neurology Research International. 2022;2022:330645. doi:10.1155/2022/330645.
[2] Al-Sayah H, Al-Dhairi A, Al-Habib T, et al. Evaluating the Long-Term Neurocognitive Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2022:10.1371/journal.peds.2022.001445.
[3] Hornby G, Ederer D, Cooke T, et al. Neuropsychiatric aspects of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19: a scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(5):2759. doi:10.3390/ijerph19052759.
[4] Zou S, Duan L, Xiong Q, et al. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on brain function and cognitive decline: A systematic review. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2022;1–17. doi:10.1142/S0192415X21501637.
- Researchers have found that a significant number of patients with severe COVID-19 may develop neurological symptoms such as seizures, headaches, and impaired consciousness, with around a third of the abnormalities occurring in the frontal lobes of the brain.
- It's worth noting that while specific studies directly linking COVID-19 to EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes may not be detailed in the research, SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to potentially affect the brain, particularly in regions like the temporal and frontal lobes.
- Additionally, research suggests that some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled as "long COVID," which may include cognitive decline and mental health issues, such as "brain fog."
- Furthermore, more research is needed to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain, mental health, and neurological disorders like epilepsy seizures, and to develop strategies for mitigating potential long-term consequences, as it's essential to address the health and wellness of individuals affected by the virus beyond just its immediate impact.
