Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Rewritten Article:
Research has suggested that neurological problems, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes, are common among people battling severe COVID-19. These patients may undergo electroencephalography (EEG) tests to monitor brain activity. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, a neurologist from Baylor College of Medicine, points out that approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients might experience neurological symptoms [1].
To gain insights into how COVID-19 affects the brain, Dr. Haneef, along with fellow researchers, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients reported in 84 studies. The researchers noted that abnormalities in EEG readings are frequent, with one-third of these occurring in the frontal lobes. Since the primary entry point of the virus is the nose, Dr. Haneef suggests a potential link between the frontal lobe and the virus [2].
Some of the most common findings in the study were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The severity of the disease correlated positively with the extent of EEG abnormalities, particularly in patients with preexisting neurological conditions [2]. The study revealed "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the entire brain in nearly 70% of patients, hinting at potential broader neural changes [2].
While the virus might not be directly responsible for all the damage, systemic effects of the infection, like inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusual blood thickening, and cardiac arrest, may contribute to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health issues, collectively called "long COVID." Among these issues is "brain fog." A recent, yet unpublished study suggest that those who claim to have had COVID-19 perform worse in cognitive tests compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus [3]. The authors propose that the infection may age people cognitively by about a decade.
Expert opinions suggest this cross-sectional study does not definitively prove that COVID-19 causes long-term cognitive decline. However, it does highlight concerns about long-lasting effects on the brain. Dr. Haneef believes that the EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19's neurological symptoms add to these concerns, as these issues might have long-term implications for some patients.
On a positive note, the study found that more than half of the patients showed improvements in their EEG results when follow-up tests were conducted. However, limitations such as lack of access to raw data, omitted normal EEGs, disproportionate number of EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms, and the use of anti-seizure medications may have influenced the research findings [2].
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[1] Coronavirus (COVID-19) neurology: Current understanding and future directions
[2] EEGchanges in COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis
[3] Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on brain function: Evidence from pre-pandemic-post-pandemic neuroimaging
- It's been discovered that seizures, along with other neurological problems, are prevalent among those with severe COVID-19, and electroencephalography (EEG) tests are utilized to assess their brain activity.
- In a study analyzing EEG results from 617 patients, researchers found abnormalities in brain activity, notably in the frontal lobes, which could be related to the primary entry point of the virus being the nose.
- Slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were some of the common findings in the study, with the extent of these abnormalities correlating positively with the severity of the disease, particularly in patients with pre-existing neurological conditions.
- Though COVID-19 might not be directly responsible for all the brain damage, systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation and low oxygen levels, may contribute to EEG abnormalities, potentially leading to long-term implications for some patients.
