COVID-19 Impacts Electrical Functions in Frontal Lobes of the Brain
In a recent review of research, abnormalities in the frontal region of the brain identified through electroencephalography (EEG) tests have been found to be common among patients experiencing neurological symptoms related to COVID-19.
According to estimates, approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 might experience neurological symptoms. Such symptoms can include headaches, confusion, seizures, strokes, and impaired consciousness. Medical professionals may refer affected patients for an EEG test, which involves placing electrodes on the scalp to monitor brain activity.
To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the brain, researchers analyzed EEG data from 617 patients across 84 different studies. The median age of the patients analyzed was 61.3 years, with two-thirds being male.
The most common findings in the EEG data were abnormal brain wave patterns and irregular electrical discharges. Researchers discovered that the extent of these EEG abnormalities corresponded positively with the severity of the disease and whether the patients had pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
While the viral infection may not be directly responsible for all the damage, systemic factors like inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest could contribute to EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Approximately one-third of the abnormalities identified in the research were in the frontal lobes of the brain. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, suggests that the close proximity of the frontal lobes to the most likely entry point for the virus—the nose—indicates a potential association. Haneef encourages doctors to examine both EEG tests and other imaging techniques, such as MRI or CT scans, to obtain a closer look at the frontal lobe for a more comprehensive understanding of COVID-19's neurological effects.
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 have reported ongoing health issues, commonly referred to as "long COVID." Among these issues is "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus. The study did not provide conclusive evidence that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline but highlighted concerns about potential lingering effects on the brain. Such concerns are further supported by the discovery of EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19.
Despite the encouraging news that 56.8% of patients showed improvements in follow-up EEG tests, the analysis did have its limitations. These included potential omissions of reported normal EEGs and a disproportionate number of EEGs performed on patients with neurological symptoms, which could have skewed the research results. Additionally, some patients were given anti-seizure medications, which could have obscured signs of seizures in their EEG traces.
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- It's concerning that neurological symptoms linked to COVID-19, such as seizures, have been found in approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19.
- The brain's frontal region has shown abnormalities in EEG tests among COVID-19 patients, which might be associated with the virus's entry point—the nose.
- Long COVID might include ongoing health issues like "brain fog," as a recent study showed individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not think they contracted the virus.
- Mental health, cognitive decline, and other neurological disorders could be potential lingering effects of COVID-19, as suggested by EEG abnormalities found in neurological symptoms of the disease.
- Apart from EEG tests, medical professionals can use imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans to gain a more comprehensive understanding of COVID-19's effects on the frontal lobe and overall neurological impact.
