Brain's Frontal Lobes Potentially Affected by COVID-19 as per Electrical Activity Disruptions
A deep dive into the world of COVID-19 research reveals some startling findings, particularly regarding neurological symptoms among patients. Approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases have reported neurological issues, such as headaches, confusion, delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. Doctors often refer these patients for an EEG test, which monitors the brain's electrical activity.
To shed light on this topic, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, reported in 84 different studies. The median age of patients was 61.3 years, with two-thirds being males.
The researchers identified a few common findings. The slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were some of the most frequently occurring abnormalities. Interestingly, the extent of these EEG abnormalities corresponds positively with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors, shares some insights. He states, "We know that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, and there seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to that entry point. These findings suggest 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, that will give us a closer look at the frontal lobe."
However, it's essential to note that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, like inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, could play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled long COVID. Among these is "brain fog." A recent study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus. Experts suggest that this study does not prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline, but it does emphasize concerns about lasting effects on the brain.
On a more positive note, the authors report that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. As research continues, the hope is that better diagnostic tools and treatments will emerge to combat these neurological complications of COVID-19.
- Hossain, S., Bhuiyan, R., Haque, M. S., & Al Mamun, M. S. (2021). Potential neurological manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review. Brain and Behavior, 11(1), e02150.
- Verma, A., Mehta, P., Calabrese, L. H., & Agarwal, C. K. (2020). Immune-related neurologic dysfunction: recognizing and managing central nervous system complications in patients with COVID-19. Retrovirology.
- Singh, V., Chaubey, N., & Singh, H. (2021). How the SARS-CoV-2 virus targets the nervous system: Brain invasion and productive infection, immune-mediated injury, and molecular mimicry. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 22.
- Neurological symptoms such as seizures and slowing of brain waves have been reported in approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases, and these symptoms often correspond positively with the severity of the disease and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients and found that the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were some of the most frequently occurring abnormalities in COVID-19 patients.
- Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled long COVID, among which is "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus, suggesting concerns about lasting effects on mental health.
