Brain's Frontal Lobes Could Experience Interruptions Due to COVID-19 Infection
The research shows that almost a third of patients with neurological symptoms related to COVID-19 have abnormalities in the frontal lobe of their brain, as discovered by an Electroencephalography (EEG) test. Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases show neurological symptoms, such as headaches, delirium, seizures, and strokes.
Doctors commonly refer patients with neurological symptoms to take EEG tests, which involve monitoring the brain's electrical activity by placing electrodes onto the scalp. By analyzing 617 EEG results from 84 different studies, researchers found that the most common findings were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges.
Interestingly, the extent of EEG abnormalities seems to correlate with disease severity and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy. One co-author of the study, Dr. Zulfi Haneef, suggests that the virus may enter the brain through the nose, causing damage to the frontal lobe.
However, it's worth noting that the virus might not be solely responsible for the observed damage. Complications from the infection, such as inflammation, reduced oxygen levels, thickened blood, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role in the EEG abnormalities found beyond the frontal lobes.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, known as "long COVID." One of these symptoms is "brain fog." A recent, yet unpublished study found that those who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test than those who didn't believe they contracted the virus. This raises concerns about long-term effects on the brain, and the observed EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 neurological symptoms add to these worries.
Despite its limitations, the study highlights the need for further investigation and the use of tools like EEG tests and other brain imaging techniques (like MRI or CT scans) to get a better understanding of COVID-19's neurological impacts. On a positive note, nearly 57% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
[1]: Neurocognitive Impairment Post-COVID-19 – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7446252/[2]: Long COVID and Neurological Symptoms – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2777047[3]: EEG and Brain Function – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6011609/
- The correlation between COVID-19 and neurological disorders, such as epilepsy seizures and the observed EEG abnormalities, is a significant concern in the medical-health and neurological-disorders field.
- As the research reveals, severe COVID-19 cases may not only affect the physical health but also precipitate mental-health issues like dementia or other cognitive problems, potentially leading to health-and-wellness complications beyond the recovery period.
- The frontal lobe of the brain is especially susceptible to the complications posed by COVID-19, as shown by an Electroencephalography (EEG) test; however, the factors contributing to EEG abnormalities in other areas of the brain remain unclear and warrant further study.
- While COVID-19 has been extensively linked to neurological symptoms like seizures and strokes, ongoing research such as EEG and MRI/CT scans is crucial to understanding the virus's long-term impact on brain function, including cognitive impairment, referred to as "brain fog."
