COVID-19 and the Brain: A Look at Neurological Symptoms and EEG Abnormalities
COVID-19 may cause disruption to electrical functions in the frontal regions of the brain
Through the lens of recent research, it appears there's a link between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms, as well as brain abnormalities detected through EEG tests.
Here's the scoop, mate:
Let’s start with the numbers. Approximately 15-25% of individuals with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, ranging from headaches and confusion to seizures and strokes. Doctors might refer patients battling these symptoms for an EEG (Electroencephalography) test, where electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor brain activity.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, took a closer look at EEG results from 617 patients reported in 84 different studies. The median age of these patients was 61.3 years, with two-thirds being male.
The team found that around a third of the abnormalities were in the frontal lobes of the brain. This could indicate a connection between the virus and the frontal lobe since its entry point is typically the nose.
What's interesting is that the more severe the disease, and the more preexisting neurological conditions patients had, the more pronounced the EEG abnormalities seemed.
Now, it's essential to note that the experts warn the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage—bummer, right? Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and even cardiac arrest, could play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The study identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients. This "brain fog" has been reported by some people who have recovered from COVID-19, setting off concerns about long-lasting effects on the brain.
On a brighter note, around 56.8% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, there were limitations to the research, like accessing raw data from individual studies and potential biases in reporting normal EEGs.
Oh, and there's this: Some researchers speculate that infection may age people cognitively by around a decade based on an unpublished study uploaded to MedRxiv. This study found that individuals who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who hadn't contracted the virus.
In the end, it's clear that EEG abnormalities associated with neurological symptoms of COVID-19 infection highlight concerns about long-term issues. As Dr. Zulfi Haneef, co-author of the study, puts it:
"People might think they'll get the illness, get better, and everything will go back to normal. But these findings tell us there might be long-term issues, which is something we've suspected, and now we're finding more evidence to support that."
So yeah, keep an eye on those COVID-19 developments, mate!
- The link between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms, such as seizures and strokes, is becoming increasingly evident through recent research.
- EEG (Electroencephalography) tests, where electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor brain activity, may be recommended for individuals experiencing these neurological symptoms.
- Approximately 15-25% of individuals with severe COVID-19 may exhibit neurological symptoms, and over a third of the detected EEG abnormalities were found in the frontal lobes.
- The researchers' findings suggest a potential connection between the virus and the frontal lobe, given its typical entry point is the nose.
- The severity of the disease and the number of preexisting neurological conditions can influence the extent of the EEG abnormalities.
- "Diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain was found in almost 70% of patients, which has been linked to "brain fog" often reported by recovered patients.
- While improvements have been observed in 56.8% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests, concerns persist regarding the potential long-term effects on the brain due to EEG abnormalities.
- Some researchers speculate that COVID-19 infection could age people cognitively by around a decade based on an unpublished study, raising further concerns about the disease's long-term impacts on mental health, cognitive function, and aging.
