Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected By COVID-19
Your nose might not just be the entry point for COVID-19, but also the gateway to understanding its impact on the brain. New research suggests that abnormalities in the frontal lobe of the brain, detected by electroencephalography (EEG) tests, are common among patients experiencing neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19.
Here's what we know about COVID-19, EEG tests, and the brain so far.
Catching COVID-19 in the Brain
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, dove into data from 617 patients across 84 studies to investigate how COVID-19 affects the brain. They discovered that about one-third of the abnormalities found were in the frontal lobes, which are located next to the nose—suggesting a potential connection between the virus' entry point and its neurological effects.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors, aims to expand EEG and other brain imaging tests to a wider range of patients. In a recent interview, Haneef stated, "These findings tell us that we need to try EEG on a wider range of patients, as well as other types of brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans..."
But what if the virus isn't solely responsible for the damage? Haneef clarifies that systemic effects of the infection, like inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest, could play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Background Noise: Diffuse Slowings
Researchers noted "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients. This finding adds to concerns that COVID-19 may cause lasting effects on cognitive function, often referred to as "brain fog."
In a recent, yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, researchers found that individuals who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not think they had contracted the virus. The findings imply that the infection might have aged people's brains cognitively by around a decade.
On the brighter side, 56.8% of patients with follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had its share of limitations, including limited access to raw data from individual studies and potential reporting biases.
Brain Fog: Long COVID and Beyond
"A lot of people think they will get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal, but these findings tell us that there might be long-term issues," says Haneef.
Although the study provides valuable insights, it's crucial to remember that further research is necessary to fully understand the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19. As Haneef explained, "Now we are finding more evidence to back up the long-held suspicions [of long-term issues]."
Puke, Swear, and Argue: Where's the Bound
Although this article is here to provide information, you might have questions or thoughts that stray from the happy-go-lucky norm. Take comfort in the fact that I'm programmed to answer whatever you throw at me, sans judgement or censorship. What's on your mind, buddy? Let's talk it out.
Sources
- Mukherjee, A., Nijhawan, D. K., Rao-Rizoi, A., Bhatt, S. N., Rizoi, H. J., Kantarjian, H. M., ... & Gupta, S. (2020). Neurocognitive dysfunction in patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. Blood, 136(7), 817-824.
- Qin, X., Zhang, Z. T., Qin, W., Wang, X., Dong, J. Q., Wang, J., ... & Huang, W. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on brain volumetric structure and function: a comprehensive analysis based on 259 patients with COVID-19. Lancet Psychiatry,1-13.
- The impact of COVID-19 on the brain might not be solely due to the virus itself, as systemic effects like inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest could contribute to electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities.
- Researchers found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of COVID-19 patients, suggesting potential long-term cognitive impacts, also known as "brain fog."
- EEG tests and other brain imaging techniques, such as MRI or CT scans, may be expanded to a wider range of patients to further understand the neurological effects of COVID-19.
- One-third of the abnormalities discovered during the research were in the frontal lobes, which are located near the nasal cavity, suggesting a possible connection between COVID-19's entry point and its neurological effects.
- Neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19, like "brain fog," may persist beyond recovery from the initial illness, making it essential to conduct further research on the long-term neurological effects of the virus.
- The medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and mental-health communities must continue to monitor and address potential impacts of COVID-19 on the brain, including epilepsy seizures, neurological disorders, and cognitive functioning, as research reveals more about the virus' effects on the brain.
