Brain's Frontal Lobes Affected by COVID-19, Affecting Electrical Activity
In a review of studies involving over 600 patients with severe COVID-19, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh discovered that neurological symptoms like headaches, confusion, and seizures are more common than previously thought. These symptoms often require an EEG test, which monitors the electrical activity of the brain, to diagnose and treat.
Disturbingly, the study revealed that around a third of these EEG results displayed abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain, which is directly adjacent to the entry point of the virus in the nose.
"There's a clear connection between the virus entering through the nose and the abnormalities we see in the brain," said Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study's co-authors. "We need to explore this further and expand the use of EEG testing on a wider range of patients, as well as other brain imaging techniques like MRIs and CT scans."
However, it's essential to note that while the virus may play a role in the damage observed in EEG results, other systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, could also contribute to the abnormalities outside the frontal lobes.
The study also identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain, which could be a sign of more widespread brain damage in COVID-19 patients.
The term "long COVID" has been coined to describe ongoing health problems experienced by some patients who have recovered from the virus, including cognitive issues like "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who reported having had COVID-19 performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they had contracted the virus, suggesting that the infection may cause long-term cognitive decline.
The relationship between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities in the brain adds to concerns about the long-term effects of the virus on cognitive function. Dr. Haneef states, "While it's great to see that improvements occur in over half of the patients who undergo follow-up EEG tests, there are still lingering questions about long-term issues that need to be addressed."
It's crucial to continue monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on the brain and the potential long-term impacts on cognitive function. As more research becomes available, we will better understand how to prevent, diagnose, and treat neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients. Stay informed by visiting our coronavirus hub regularly.
- The study involving over 600 patients with severe COVID-19 found that epilepsy seizures, along with headaches and confusion, are more common than initially believed in these patients, often requiring an EEG test for diagnosis and treatment.
- Disturbingly, around a third of the EEG results displayed abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain, which are next to the entry point of the virus in the nose.
- While the virus might contribute to the observed brain damage in EEG results, other systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, could also play a role in abnormalities outside the frontal lobes.
- The study also identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain, which could be a sign of more widespread brain damage in COVID-19 patients, adding to concerns about the potential long-term effects of the virus on cognitive function, mental health, and other neurological disorders.
