Brain's Frontal Lobes: Disruptions in Electrical Activity Potentially Caused by COVID-19
Neurological issues often surface among individuals with severe COVID-19 cases, causing symptoms like headaches, confusion, and seizures. These patients might undergo an EEG test, a procedure involving electrical activity monitoring in the brain through electrodes on the scalp [1].
A recent analysis of EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 studies, indicates that COVID-19 can significantly impact brain waves and electrical discharges [2]. Interestingly, about a third of these abnormal findings cluster in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading experts to suspect it's the virus's point of entry, given its location next to the nose [2].
However, it's crucial to note that the virus may not be the sole culprit behind all these brain irregularities. Infections might provoke inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and even cardiac arrest, attributing to EEG abnormalities beyond just the frontal lobe [2].
The study also revealed "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the entire brain in nearly 70% of patients [2]. This phenomenon, often referred to as "brain fog," is associated with ongoing health issues in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, collectively known as "long COVID" [3].
While this analysis has its limitations—for example, the omission of many normal EEGs and the potential skewing of results due to doctors' preference for performing tests on patients with neurological symptoms—it does highlight potential long-term neural concerns. Moreover, 56.8% of patients in follow-up tests showed improvements, offering some hope [2].
Going forward, further research is needed to better understand how COVID-19 severity affects EEG patterns in the frontal lobes and how these changes might be related to neurological outcomes [4].
[1] General observations on COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities[2] Review of research on frontal lobe abnormalities in COVID-19 patients[3] Suggestions of long-term cognitive decline in COVID-19 patients based on preliminary, unreviewed research[4] Need for more targeted research on COVID-19's impact on EEG patterns in the frontal lobes and their relation to neurological outcomes.
- The coronavirus, especially in severe COVID-19 cases, has been linked to epilepsy seizures, headaches, and confusion, which are neurological medical conditions often associated with health-and-wellness issues.
- A recent analysis of EEG results from 617 patients suggested that COVID-19 can significantly impact brain waves and electrical discharges, with abnormalities often clustering in the frontal lobes, a potential point of entry for the virus due to its location next to the nose.
- Further research is crucial in understanding how COVID-19 severity impacts EEG patterns in the frontal lobes and how these changes might be related to neurological disorders, such as neurological-disorders or long COVID, a collective term for ongoing health issues observed in recovered COVID-19 patients.
