Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19 research indicates that brain abnormalities, identified through electroencephalography (EEG) tests, are prevalent among patients with neurological symptoms. These symptoms are experienced by approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 and may include headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes.
To investigate the neurological impact of the virus, researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients reported in 84 studies. The research, published in the Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, found that around a third of the abnormal findings were located in the frontal lobes of the brain.
The study's co-author, Dr. Zulfi Haneef, suggested that the virus may enter the brain through the nose, close to the frontal lobes. He emphasized the need for broader EEG testing and additional brain imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans.
The virus may not be solely responsible for the brain abnormalities, as systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation and low oxygen levels, might contribute. Around 70% of patients showed "diffuse slowing" in their brain’s electrical activity.
The connection between COVID-19 and long-term cognitive issues, often referred to as "long COVID," has raised concerns. A study found that individuals who claimed to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test, suggesting potential cognitive aging due to the infection. However, this study did not definitively prove a causal link.
Despite these concerns, 56.8% of patients showed improvements in follow-up EEG tests. The study had limitations, including a lack of access to individual study data and biases in the selection of patients.
While more research is necessary to confirm a direct link between COVID-19 severity and specific frontal lobe EEG abnormalities, the study contributes to the growing body of evidence suggesting the virus's impact on the brain.
[1] Case Report: COVID-19-Induced Brain Edema in a Child[2] Electroencephalography Abnormalities in Severe COVID-19 Patients[4] EEG Biomarkers and Cognitive Processes[5] EEG Metrics and Brain Function
- The study published in the Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy revealed that coronavirus infections could lead to epilepsy seizures, as around a third of brain abnormalities detected through EEG tests were found in the frontal lobes of affected patients.
- While the impacts of COVID-19 on health-and-wellness extend beyond the respiratory system, recent research has uncovered a significant connection between COVID-19 and neurological disorders, including seizures, strokes, and other medical-conditions.
- As more research emerges on the neurological effects of COVID-19, it's crucial for medical professionals to consider various diagnostics, such as EEGs, MRIs, and CT scans, to fully understand the virus's impact on the brain and potential long-term cognitive implications (long COVID).
