Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity May Be Impacted by COVID-19
Looking into research on COVID-19 and the brain, it's clear that a connection between the virus and electrical activity in the brain, as measured by EEG tests, is becoming more apparent.
According to a recent review, approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. In response to these symptoms, doctors may refer patients for an EEG test, where electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor the brain's electrical activity.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies. The study revealed that around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading researchers to suspect that this area may be particularly susceptible to COVID-19's effects.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study's co-authors, points out that the noses are the most likely entry point for the virus and that the frontal lobes are located directly next to this area. This connection between the entry point and the frontal lobes leads Haneef to suggest that EEG tests and other brain imaging techniques should be used more widely to assess patients who have been infected with COVID-19.
However, it's important to note that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Adding to concerns about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain, some individuals who have recovered from the virus report ongoing health problems, including "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus. While this study does not prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline, it does raise concerns about the potential for lasting effects on the brain.
On a positive note, the authors of the review report that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had several limitations, including a lack of access to raw data from individual studies and the possibility that doctors may have performed disproportionately more EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms, potentially skewing the research results.
All in all, it appears that COVID-19 may be associated with EEG abnormalities, especially in the frontal lobes, which are linked to various cognitive and emotional functions. EEG changes in frontal brain regions may serve as biomarkers for assessing COVID-19’s neurological impact and could provide valuable information for doctors treating patients with the virus. As we continue to learn more about the virus and its effects on the body, it's crucial that we remain vigilant and adapt our approach to treatment as new information comes to light.
- The connection between coronavirus and epilepsy seizures, as well as other neurological disorders, is becoming increasingly evident, according to research on COVID-19 and the brain.
- In response to potential neurological symptoms like seizures in COVID-19 patients, doctors may refer them for an EEG test, a medical-condition diagnosis tool that monitors the brain's electrical activity.
- CBD, a compound often used for its potential health-and-wellness benefits, has not been extensively researched in relation to its effects on COVID-19's impact on the brain, including on neurological disorders like seizures.
- Mental-health issues such as "brain fog" and potential lasting cognitive decline have been reported by individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, increasing concerns about the long-term effects of the virus on the brain.
