Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms are more likely to exhibit neurological symptoms, including headaches, confusion, and seizures, according to a recent review of research studies. The electrical activity of these patients' brains, as measured by electroencephalography (EEG) tests, often shows abnormalities, with the frontal lobes of the brain being particularly affected.
Analyzing data from over 600 patients, researchers found that the extent of EEG abnormalities correlated positively with disease severity and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions. The study, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, suggests that doctors should consider EEG tests for a wider range of COVID-19 patients and use other imaging techniques, such as MRI or CT scans, to examine the frontal lobe.
The most frequent findings on EEG tests were a slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The review included studies on patients with an average age of 61 and a majority of males.
The location of the frontal lobes, which are situated next to the nose - the entry point for the virus - may contribute to the link between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities, according to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the co-authors of the study.
However, the researchers noted that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage observed in the EEG tests. Inflammation, low oxygen levels, and other systemic effects of the infection may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The study also identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in approximately 70% of patients.
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 experience ongoing health problems collectively referred to as "long COVID." Among the symptoms of this condition is "brain fog." A recent study, while not yet peer-reviewed or published, found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on cognitive tests than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus.
The researchers' findings add to concerns about potential long-term issues in the brains of COVID-19 survivors, according to Dr. Haneef. While 56.8% of patients with follow-up EEG tests showed improvements, the study had several limitations, such as limited access to raw data, exclusion of many normal EEGs, and the potential obscuring of seizure signs by anti-seizure medications.
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[Enrichment Data:] The review supports the hypothesis that severe COVID-19 can cause inflammation, immune dysregulation, and cerebral hypoperfusion, leading to neuronal injury and altered cortical activity measurable by EEG. These findings emphasize the frontal lobes' sensitivity during severe COVID-19 neurological involvement.
- The recent review of research studies suggests that patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms may experience epilepsy seizures, as neurological symptoms like seizures have been observed in these individuals.
- A study published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy found a correlation between the extent of EEG abnormalities and the severity of COVID-19, indicating the significance of considering EEG tests for a wider range of COVID-19 patients, especially those with preexisting neurological medical-conditions.
- Apart from the frontal lobe, the study identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in approximately 70% of patients, raising concerns about long-term neurological issues in COVID-19 survivors, like ongoing health problems collectively referred to as "long COVID."
