Brain's Frontal Lobes Can Experience Electrical Disruption Due to COVID-19
Revised Review of COVID-19's Neurological Impact on the Frontal Lobes
Research studies point to a common occurrence of brain irregularities in the frontal lobe, detected through EEG tests, among patients experiencing neurological symptoms related to COVID-19.
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Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients may exhibit neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes.
Doctors often order EEG tests for patients experiencing these symptoms, which include placing electrodes on the scalp to monitor the brain's electrical activity.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients across 84 studies to gain insights into COVID-19's effects on the brain.
The median age of patients was 61.3 years, and around two-thirds were males.
The researchers found that the extent of EEG abnormalities correlated with the disease's severity and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
The Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy published the review.
Deep Dive into the Frontal Lobes
One-third of the abnormal EEG findings were located in the frontal lobes. According to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, a neurology/neurophysiology assistant professor at Baylor, this could be connected to the virus's probable entry point—the nose, which is adjacent to the frontal lobe.
However, the researchers note that the virus may not be solely responsible for all the damages, and systemic effects—including inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest—could be contributing factors to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
Approximately 70% of patients showed "diffuse slowing" in their whole brain's background electrical activity.
Brain Fog and COVID-19
Recovered COVID-19 patients sometimes report long-lasting health issues, known as long COVID. Included in these issues is "brain fog." A recent, pre-peer-reviewed study suggested that claiming to have had COVID-19 led to poorer performance on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus, suggesting a possible cognitive aging effect.
These findings, along with the EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19's neurological symptoms, raise concerns about potential long-term impacts on the brain.
However, the researchers reported that 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
The study had limitations, such as a lack of original data access, potential omission of normal EEGs, and disproportionate EEG testing in patients with neurological symptoms. Doctors might also obscure signs of seizures by administering anti-seizure medications to patients they suspected were experiencing seizures.
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- Severe COVID-19 patients may exhibit neurological symptoms such as seizures, headaches, confusion, and strokes, and medical professionals often order electroencephalography (EEG) tests to monitor the brain's electrical activity.
- Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases involve neurological symptoms, and these patients' EEG results often show abnormalities, especially in the frontal lobes.
- Researchers have found that the extent of EEG abnormalities correlates with the disease's severity and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
- The Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy has published a review on the neurological impact of COVID-19 on the frontal lobes.
- Health and wellness enthusiasts concerned about COVID-19 and its potential effects on the brain may want to stay updated on the latest research, which indicates that long-term impacts on the brain, such as "brain fog," could be a concern for some recovered patients.
- It's important to note that COVID-19's neurological effects may not be solely due to the virus, as systemic effects, including inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, could also be contributing factors to EEG abnormalities.
