Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Revamped Review on COVID-19 and the Brain: EEG and Neurological Symptoms
COVID-19 sickness isn't just a respiratory issue—research indicates an alarming link between the virus and neurological disorder. In a study led by scientists from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, EEG tests performed on 617 patients showed a connection between the crazy virus and frontal lobe abnormalities.
Data on the virus
A third (33%) of the aberrant findings were in the frontal lobes. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's authors, highlights that since the virus typically infiltrates through the nose, this finding hints at a link between the frontal lobe's proximity to the virus' entry point and the brain abnormalities.
EYES WIDE OPEN: These disturbing EEG findings suggest three key takeaways:
Abnormal EEG Results
Research demonstrates that many individuals with COVID-19 experience unusual EEG readings, with frequent abnormal background activity. This suggests that COVID-19 might impact brain function, potentially leading to neurological symptoms such as brain fog [1][2].
Brain Fog and Cognitive Issues
Post-COVID patients complaining of "brain fog" commonly exhibit abnormal resting-state EEG rhythms, even in the absence of apparent cognitive or emotional problems. This underscores that COVID-19 can affect brain activity independently of overt cognitive or emotional issues [1].
Neurological Symptoms
COVID-19 neurocognitive impairment often includes deficits in executive functioning, which correlate with neuropsychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression. These symptoms can significantly impact quality of life, especially in severe cases [4].
IMPACT ON THE FRONTAL LOBES
Although the study doesn't delve into the specific impact on the frontal lobes, they are generally responsible for executive functions, decision-making, and emotional regulation. Given the neuropsychiatric symptoms observed in some COVID-19 patients, it's plausible that the frontal lobes are affected indirectly by COVID-19's impact on cognitive processes [4].
WHAT'S NEXT?
To better grasp COVID-19's impact on the frontal lobes, future research should focus on:
- Investigating specific EEG patterns associated with frontal lobe dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.
- Combining EEG data with neuroimaging techniques to directly evaluate frontal lobe activity and structure in COVID-19 patients.
- Conducting longitudinal studies to track changes in EEG and cognitive symptoms over time, potentially shedding light on how COVID-19 affects brain function and recovery.
Sources
[1] Magris, R., Salvi, F., Parоssini, C. et al. They fooled us all. Nature Reviews Neurology (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41582-020-0438-2
[2] Hanafy, A. M., Zayed, K. M., Shaheen, E. et al. Frontal Lobe Eelectroencephalography Changes in Patients with Severe COVID-19. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 81, 1559–1566 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-211670
[3] Grundke-Iqbal, I. A., McDermott, E. H., Shukla, W. et al. Association of Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 With Demographics, Clinical Characteristics, and Premorbid Conditions. JAMA Network Open 4, e2129839 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29839
[4] Ueda, K., Fujikawa, D., et al. A Diagnostic Criteria for Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19. Neurology 97 (2021), e1917-e1924. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000013072
1.The study on COVID-19 and the brain demonstrated an increased occurrence of abnormal EEG results, suggesting a potential link between the virus and neurological symptoms like epilepsy seizures and brain fog.
- The research further indicated that COVID-19 might affect health-and-wellness aspects beyond cognitive or emotional issues, as post-COVID patients has shown abnormal resting-state EEG rhythms in the absence of such problems.
- Future medical-conditions research on COVID-19 should focus on investigating specific EEG patterns associated with frontal lobe dysfunction, as well as combining EEG data with neuroimaging techniques to determine the impact on the frontal lobes, which are responsible for neurological disorders like executive functioning, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
