Brain's frontal lobes may experience electrical disruptions due to COVID-19 infection
COVID-19′s impact on the brain is a growing area of concern, with research revealing that neurological symptoms like headaches, confusion, and seizures are common in severe cases. One tool used to monitor brain activity is an electroencephalography (EEG) test, which involves placing electrodes on the scalp to record the brain's electrical activity.
Recent analysis of EEG data from 617 patients, reported in 84 studies, showed that about a third of the patients exhibited abnormalities in their frontal lobes, leading researchers to suspect that this part of the brain could be a primary target for the virus.
"There seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that's located directly next to the entry point, which is the nose," explains Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors. Although it's not definitive that the virus directly causes all the damage, inflammation, low oxygen levels, and other systemic issues may play a role in wider EEG abnormalities across the brain.
difficulties experienced by those who have recovered from COVID-19, such as brain fog, are now known as "long COVID." Intriguingly, a recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not suspect infection. This suggests that the infection may have caused a cognitive decline akin to aging by about a decade.
These EEG abnormalities raise more concerns about long-term issues that could persist after recovery. "A lot of people think they'll get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal," adds Dr. Haneef. "But these findings tell us that there might be long-term issues, which is something we've suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up." Still, the authors report that around half of those who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
Despite the limitations in the studies, such as lack of access to raw data and the possibility of skewed results due to doctors tending to order more EEGs for patients with neurological symptoms, the results demonstrate that exploring further the brain's role in COVID-19 is crucial. By better understanding how the virus affects the brain, doctors can work towards improved diagnosis and treatment for affected individuals.
- The coronavirus seems to have a significant impact on the brain, with neurological disorders like seizures, headaches, and confusion being common in severe cases.
- A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID performed less well on a cognitive test, suggesting that the infection may cause a cognitive decline akin to aging by about a decade.
- EEG abnormalities, which were found in about a third of patients who underwent the test, raise concerns about long-term issues that could persist after recovery for those diagnosed with COVID-19.
- By better understanding how the virus affects the brain, doctors can work towards improved diagnosis and treatment for individuals suffering from neurological conditions or mental health issues related to COVID-19, such as epilepsy seizures, brain fog, or other mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. CBD, a potential therapeutic option for neurological disorders, could also benefit from this research as it may help in managing symptoms arising from COVID-19.
