Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Let's dive into the brain's surprises amid COVID-19
Y'all know how COVID-19 has been twisting our lungs and hearts, right? Well, it seems it's not only storming through our respiratory system; recent research suggests it might be causin' some ruckus in our noggin, too.
Normally, around 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 might encounter neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. These folks are often referred for an EEG test—electroencephalography, for those who ain't down with medical jargon—to check out what's goin' on in their brains.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from more than 600 patients across 84 different studies. The study showed a whopping third of these bitches had some peculiar findings in the frontal lobes of their brains.
According to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors, this points to a possible connection—the nose, being the virus' most likely entry point, is right next to these brain areas.
Now, docs ain't sure if COVID is directly causin' all this damage, or if systemic effects like inflammation or low oxygen levels are at play. They also found a "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the entire brain in almost 70% of patients.
On a slightly brighter note, over half of the patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. But, hey, there's still plenty more to learn about the virus' lingering effects on the brain.
Some researchers reported a phenomenon called "brain fog," a cognitive decline that some recovering COVID-19 patients experience. Recently, a study proposed that the virus might age people cognitively by about a decade.
Experts say this study doesn't prove that COVID causes long-term cognitive decline, but it does raise concerns about potential lasting impacts on the brain. Dr. Haneef agrees, emphasizing, "A lotta folks think they'll beat this thing and bounce right back to normal, but these findings tell us there might be some long-term issues brewin', something we've suspected, and now we're seein' more evidence to back that up."
Now, lemme clarify—the research doesn't definitively link COVID-19's severity with EEG abnormalities, specifically those in the frontal lobes. But, considering the broader impact of the disease on the brain, and the connectionsBetween COVID-19 and various neurological conditions, it ain't too far-fetched to think there might be something here worth exploring.
Stay curious, folks! As always, follow the latest COVID-19 developments for more insights.
- While COVID-19 primarily affects the lungs and heart, recent research suggests it could also cause seizures and other neurological symptoms, such as headaches and strokes.
- Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh discovered that nearly a third of COVID-19 patients exhibited peculiar findings in their frontal lobes during EEG tests, indicating potential long-term impacts on the brain.
- Such findings raise concerns about the virus's potential to cause long-term cognitive decline, though more research is needed to clarify these connections and fully understand the virus's effects on mental health and various neurological disorders.
- It's crucial to follow the latest developments in health and wellness, including COVID-19 research, to stay informed about potential risks and emerging treatment options for epilepsy, seizures, and other neurological conditions.
