Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, a review of research suggests. These symptoms can include headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes.
Doctors may refer patients with such symptoms for an electroencephalography (EEG) test, which involves placing electrodes on the scalp to monitor the electrical activity of the brain. A team of researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies.
The review, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, found that the most common EEG abnormalities were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The extent of the abnormalities was positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Notably, around a third of the abnormalities were found in the frontal lobes of the brain, which are located directly next to the nose, suggesting a potential link between the virus's entry point and brain damage. However, the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage, as systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The study also found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients, raising concerns about lasting cognitive effects, known as "brain fog," in some people who have recovered from COVID-19. A recent study suggested that the infection may have aged people cognitively by around a decade.
While these findings add to concerns about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain, they also offer hope: around 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the researchers noted several limitations in their analysis, including lack of access to raw data and potential skewing of the results due to doctors performing disproportionately more EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms.
In conclusion, COVID-19 can lead to various neurological complications, including EEG abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes. These abnormalities are positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions. While the virus may not be directly responsible for all damage, it can cause widespread neurological effects, potentially impacting brain regions such as the frontal lobes. Vigilance and early detection of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients are crucial for improving outcomes.
- The coronavirus, in its severe form, can lead to epilepsy seizures and other neurological disorders in patients, as suggested by a review of research.
- The medical-conditions associated with COVID-19, such as seizures and strokes, might prompt doctors to conduct health-and-wellness tests like electroencephalography (EEG).
- The study of EEG results from COVID-19 patients revealed that the virus can cause abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes, which may have implications for long-term brain health and cognitive function.
