Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Over a third of brain abnormalities observed through EEG tests in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms are found in the frontal lobes, researchers suggest. This could indicate a connection between the viral entry point in the nose and the affected brain region.
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms, which may include headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. EEG tests, which measure the brain's electrical activity, are often used to assess these symptoms.
Researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, finding that generalized slowing and abnormal electrical discharges were common. These abnormalities were more pronounced in patients with severe disease and those with preexisting neurological conditions.
The findings were published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, notes that the virus may not be solely responsible for the brain damage observed. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation and low oxygen levels, may also play a role in EEG abnormalities.
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, known as long COVID. Among these symptoms is "brain fog." A recent, as-of-yet unpublished study suggests that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 perform less well on cognitive tests than those who did not believe they had been infected. This study does not definitively prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline, but it does raise concerns about potential lasting effects on the brain.
According to the researchers, approximately 70% of patients showed "diffuse slowing" in their brain's background electrical activity. On a positive note, over half of patients showed improvements when retested.
The researchers acknowledge several limitations in their analysis, including lack of access to individual study data and potential biases introduced by the administration of anti-seizure medications.
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- The coronavirus, in addition to causing conventional symptoms, has been linked to neurological disorders such as epilepsy seizures and mental health issues, as suggested by a study published in Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.
- Researchers have found that around 70% of COVID-19 patients exhibit "diffuse slowing" in their brain's background electrical activity, which could be a potential cause for confusion and other neurological symptoms.
- Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health issues, including "brain fog." A recent study indicates that these individuals perform less well on cognitive tests compared to those who did not believe they were infected, raising concerns about the virus's potential impact on long-term cognitive health and mental-health conditions.
- The study also suggests that the virus may not be solely responsible for the brain damage observed; systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation and low oxygen levels, may also contribute to EEG abnormalities and other neurological-disorders in COVID-19 patients.