Brain's frontal lobes' electrical activity can be disrupted by COVID-19 infection.
Article Title: EEG Test Reveals Frontal Lobe Abnormalities in COVID-19 Patients with Neurological Symptoms
A review of recent research suggests a correlation between COVID-19 and abnormalities in the frontal region of the brain, as identified by electroencephalography (EEG) tests. The findings, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, indicate that approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes.
To investigate the impact of the virus on the brain, researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies. The study shows that around a third of the identified abnormalities were in the frontal lobes. The median age of patients who underwent an EEG was 61.3 years, and two-thirds were males.
The most common findings were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The extent of the EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions such as epilepsy.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, noted, "Given the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, it seems there is a connection between the part of the brain that is located next to that entry point." He also suggested that further EEG tests and other types of brain imaging should be conducted on a wider range of patients to gain a closer look at the frontal lobe.
The researchers acknowledged that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage; systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, might also play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Additionally, the study identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the entire brain in nearly 70% of patients. This research adds to concerns about long-term effects on the brain, as some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health issues, now labeled 'long COVID,' including "brain fog."
Overall, the relationship between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes, is an ongoing area of research. As more studies are conducted, a clearer understanding of the mechanisms involved and potential interventions will emerge. For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit our coronavirus hub.
- The correlation between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms, such as seizures and strokes, is increasingly recognized, as indicated by a study involving EEG tests that revealed frontal lobe abnormalities in approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients.
- The study, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, also showed that around a third of the identified EEG abnormalities were specifically in the frontal lobes, often accompanied by slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges.
- The findings suggest that COVID-19 may not only impact the health-and-wellness of a patient, but also various medical-conditions, including mental-health and neurological-disorders, such as epilepsy, given the positive correlation between the severity of the disease and the extent of the EEG abnormalities.
- As the research into the relationship between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes, continues, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved and potential interventions will emerge, potentially addressing long-term concerns about the impact of the virus on the brain.
