Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Disrupted Due to COVID-19
A review of studies suggests a link between neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients and abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain, as spotted via EEG tests. Here's what we found out.
COVID-19's Impact on the Brain
Estimates show that around 15-25% of patients experiencing severe COVID-19 manifest neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. Medical professionals may refer patients with such symptoms for an EEG test, which involves attaching electrodes to the scalp to monitor brain activity.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients across 84 different studies. Half of these patients showed some signs of abnormality, with many displaying slowing brain waves and unusual electrical discharges.
The most striking finding: roughly a third of the abnormalities were identified in the frontal lobes. This raises questions about the virus's direct influence on these crucial cognitive and emotional centers of the brain.
A Possible Connection
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, suspects that the viral entry point into the body, the nose, might have something to do with this. The frontal lobes are closely situated to this entry point, suggesting a potential connection between the virus's target and its brain-related effects.
However, he cautions that the virus might not be the sole culprit for all the observed EEG abnormalities. Systemic effects such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest may also contribute to damage beyond the frontal lobes.
Beyond the Frontal Lobes
Researchers also identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients. These findings support the idea that COVID-19 could have long-lasting effects on cognitive functioning, adding to the concerns about long-term issues.
Moreover, a recent unpublished study suggests that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 perform less well on cognitive tests compared to those who did not contract the virus, hinting at potential cognitive aging effects from the virus.
While this research does not definitively prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline, it does underscore concerns about the virus's impact on the brain.
Long-Term Issues: A Possibility
The findings from the EEG research seem to support the idea that COVID-19 may not just be a temporary ailment with instant recovery. As Dr. Haneef puts it, "These findings tell us that there might be long-term issues, which is something we have suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up."
On a positive note, roughly half of the patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. Still, the researchers acknowledge limitations in their study, such as lack of access to raw data, possibly skewed results due to doctors' focus on patients with neurological symptoms, and the influence of anti-seizure medications on the EEG traces.
For further insights into the novel coronavirus and its effects, visit our coronavirus hub. Stay informed and stay safe!
- The COVID-19 virus may have a direct impact on the frontal lobes of the brain, as these crucial cognitive and emotional centers of the brain showed abnormalities in about a third of the patients analyzed in EEG tests.
- seizures, confusion, headaches, and strokes are some neurological symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients, and medical professionals may use EEG tests to monitor brain activity for these signs.
- While the virus might not be the sole cause of all EEG abnormalities, systemic effects such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest could also contribute to brain damage beyond the frontal lobes.
- The research suggests that COVID-19 could have long-lasting effects on cognitive functioning and mental health, with potential cognitive aging effects and long-term issues becoming more evident as new studies emerge.
