Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19 has been known to take a toll on the brain, causing a variety of neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. Researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the brain.
Several studies suggest that the virus might not be responsible for all the damage in the brain. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, might play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The most common findings were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Interestingly, around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes, leading researchers to suspect that this region could be the most vulnerable.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, believes that there could be a connection between the entry point of the virus in the nose and the frontal lobe's proximity. He suggests that EEG tests should be performed on a wider range of patients and other brain imaging techniques, such as MRI or CT scans, might provide a closer look at the frontal lobe.
One concerning issue is the increasingly reported phenomenon of "brain fog" among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. A recent study, although not yet peer-reviewed, found that individuals who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they had contracted the virus.
This study, coupled with the findings of EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19's neurological symptoms, raises concerns about long-term cognitive decline and brain damage. Dr. Haneef notes that there might be long-term issues due to the virus, a suspicion that is gaining more evidence to support it.
On a positive note, 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the analysis had several limitations, including the lack of access to raw data from individual studies, the omission of many normal EEGs, and the potential obscuring of signs of seizures due to anti-seizure medications.
In summary, while the link between COVID-19 severity and EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes is not yet definitively established, concerns are mounting about the potential long-term impacts on the brain. Further research and rigorous studies are needed to fully understand this complex issue.
[1] Neurocognitive Impairments Associated with COVID-19: A Review of the Current Evidence - Under Reviewhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468188121001611
[2] Long COVID: Examining the Neurological and Cognitive Consequences - Under Reviewhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8014075/
[3] EEG for Stress Detection: A Review of Methods and Applications - Publishedhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6056842/
- The coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, has been linked to a variety of neurological symptoms, including seizures, and research is being conducted to understand the impact of the virus on the brain.
- Some studies suggest that the virus might not be solely responsible for the brain's damage; systemic effects of the infection could also contribute to EEG abnormalities.
- CBD, a substance known for its potential benefits for mental health and neurological disorders, could potentially offer avenues for research to better understand and manage COVID-19's impact on the brain.
- As concerns rise about the potential long-term cognitive decline and brain damage from COVID-19, further rigorous studies are needed in the areas of health-and-wellness, mental-health, and epilepsy-seizures to fully grasp the complex relationship between the virus and the brain.
