COVID-19 Crashing Frontal Lobe Parties: What the Research Says
COVID-19 Infections Can Potentially Alter Electrical Functions in the Frontal Lobes of the Brain
Let's dive into the nerve-wracking world of neuroscience and COVID-19. Research indicates that this destructive virus has a penchant for messing with the frontal lobe of the brain, leading to a mad caper of neurological symptoms when it hits.
The Lowdown on COVID-1s Neurological Breeches
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 strutter through the gates of neurological perplexities, such as headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. When their docs spot such bizarre behavior, they often send 'em off for an Electroencephalography (EEG) test to get the full story.
The EEG is like the party cop at the front door of the brain, monitoring the electrical dance of the neurons to see if everything's kosher. Recent research has revealed that around a third of the time, the jamboree in the frontal lobe is anything but lit.
Enter, COVID's Cunning Gatecrasher
"We know the virus often weasels its way in via the nosy parker path," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine. "It seems there's a connection between the frontal lobe, the fandango spot just next to that entry point."
Haneef and his colleagues believe that EEGs should be a regular guest list for a wider range of patients, alongside other party animals like MRI and CT scans that give a closer look at the frontal lobe goings-on. Oh, and don't forget the ruckus that systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and heart attacks, can create!
The COVID Long Haul and "Brain Fog"
Some unfortunate souls who have caught COVID-19 and managed to recover are now dealing with long-term health issues, labeled as "long COVID." "Brain fog" is one such malady that has them feeling foggy, foggy indeed.
Recent studies suggest that COVID-19 might be making people's brains age prematurely by a decade or more. While these findings are yet to receive the stamp of approval from their peers, they do raise concerns about long-lasting effects on the brain.
Now, what's even more alarming is that EEG abnormalities found in patients with neurological symptoms of COVID-19 egg on these worries.
Keeping It Real
"A lotta peeps think they'll pick up COVID, get better, and everything will be smoky sailing, but these findings tell us that there may be long-term hiccups," warns Haneef.
On a positive note, better days were on the horizon for over half the individuals who had follow-up EEG tests. However, the research also had its share of limitations, such as a lack of access to raw data from individual studies and potential biases that may have skewed the results.
On the Cutting Edge
So, what's the final word on COVID-19 crashing the frontal lobe party? Well, it's more like a dancing-around-the-mystery sorta deal. The neurological impact of COVID-19 and the role of EEG in assessing brain function scream for further investigation. As the research continues to grind on, we'll keep ya posted on any thrilling revelations!
For updates on the latest developments regarding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, keep your eyes glued to [this].
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0963-4[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7249110/[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3210746/[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4782869/
- Certain neurological symptoms like seizures can occur in individuals with severe COVID-19, leading medical professionals to conduct Electroencephalography (EEG) tests to understand them better.
- COVID-19 may be linked to other mental health issues such as 'brain fog,' which can cause individuals to feel disoriented, and recent studies suggest that it might be accelerating the aging of the brain.
- The connection between COVID-19 and epilepsy or other neurological disorders remains a mystery and needs further research.
- CBD, a compound found in cannabis, may hold potential therapeutic benefits for managing certain neurological disorders or mental health conditions, making it an intriguing subject of study in relation to COVID-19's neurological effects.
