Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19 has shown to significantly impact the brain, particularly in those with severe cases. A study by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh investigated this further by analyzing electroencephalography (EEG) results from 617 patients across 84 studies.
The researchers discovered that approximately a third of the abnormal EEG findings were in the frontal lobes, leading to questions about the relationship between COVID-19 and this brain region. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, co-author of the study, explains, "Given that the virus likely enters through the nose, it seems there might be a connection between the frontal lobes directly adjacent to the entry point."
While the study suggests that COVID-19 may contribute to EEG abnormalities, it's essential to recognize that systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role. In fact, almost 70% of patients in the study displayed "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain.
Some recovered COVID-19 patients report ongoing health issues, often referred to as "long COVID." Among these problems is the cognitive impairment known as brain fog. A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus. While this study has not yet been peer-reviewed, it raises concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain.
Dr. Haneef shares these concerns, stating, "The findings suggest that there might be long-term issues resulting from COVID-19, which we had previously suspected and now have more evidence to support." On the positive side, the study reported that 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
It's important to mention that the study had several limitations, including a lack of access to raw data from individual studies and potential skewing of the results due to doctors' disproportionateuse of EEG tests on patients with neurological symptoms. Additionally, doctors may have given anti-seizure medications to patients they suspected were having seizures, potentially obscuring seizure signs in their EEG traces.
In conclusion, while further research is needed to fully understand the connection between EEG abnormalities, COVID-19, and brain function, the findings suggest that COVID-19 may impact the brain both acutely and long-term. Those experiencing neurological symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, should discussing their concerns with their healthcare providers.
- COVID-19, particularly in severe cases, has shown to significantly impact the brain, with a study suggesting this may be linked to abnormalities in electroencephalography (EEG) activities.
- The study, conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients across 84 studies.
- Approximately a third of the abnormal EEG findings were in the frontal lobes, leading to questions about the relationship between COVID-19 and this brain region.
- While the study shows that COVID-19 may contribute to EEG abnormalities, it's essential to consider that systemic effects of the infection, including inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role.
- Some recovered COVID-19 patients report ongoing health issues, including cognitive impairment known as "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus.
- Dr. Haneef, co-author of the study, shares concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain, stating that the findings suggest there might be long-term issues resulting from COVID-19.
