Brain's Frontal Lobes Electric Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Take a gander at this intriguing study looking into brain abnormalities in patients with neurological symptoms related to COVID-19. Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from a whopping 617 patients across 84 different studies.
COVID-19 and Brain Symptoms
If you've been keeping up with the news, you might know that approximately 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases could experience neurological symptoms, like headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. Doctors may then refer these patients to an EEG test, which involves electrodes placed on the scalp to monitor brain electrical activity.
COVID-19 Impact on the Brain
So, what exactly is going on in the brain of these infected individuals? The study found that the most common EEG findings revolved around brainwave slowing and abnormal electrical discharges. Interestingly, the extent of these abnormalities notably correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy.
Brain's Hotspot for COVID-19
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, explained that given the vaccine's most likely entry point—the nose—there's a connection between the entry point and the portion of the brain located right next to it, namely the frontal lobes. He highlighted the necessity for broader EEG testing and exploration of other brain imaging methods, like MRIs or CT scans, to better understand the frontal lobe's impact.
The Virus vs. systemic effects
It's essential to note that the virus might not be solely responsible for all the damage. Instead, systemic effects such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and even cardiac arrest could also contribute to the EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Long-Term COVID Effects on the Brain
People who have recovered from COVID-19 could experience ongoing health issues, now labeled as "long COVID." Among these lingering problems is "brain fog." A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed poorer on an online cognitive test compared to those who didn't believe they contracted the virus.
While the study doesn't conclusively prove long-term cognitive decline, it does draw attention to potential long-term damage to the brain. Haneef agreed, stating that the EEG findings add to these concerns and suggest the possibility of long-term issues, which has been a growing suspicion among experts.
Hope for Improvement
On the lighter side, the study revealed that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
The authors did admit that their analysis had several limitations, like a lack of access to raw data, missing normal EEGs from reports, and the possibility of obscured seizure signs due to administered anti-seizure medications.
In sum, EEG findings associated with COVID-19's neurological symptoms contribute to concerns about long-term damage to the brains of affected individuals. However, improvements have also been observed in follow-up EEG tests, offering some glimmer of hope. Stay tuned for more research and updates on this fascinating topic!
EEG Findings in Brief
- Abnormal Background Activity: Another name for generalized slowing, which might indicate diffuse brain dysfunction or encephalopathy, common in severe COVID-19 cases.
- Focal Abnormalities: Arises in cases of localized brain injury or inflammation, such as in rare but severe complication acute necrotizing encephalopathy.
- Seizure Activity: Recurrent seizures have been reported in patients with COVID-19.
- Correlation with Disease Severity: EEG abnormalities can reflect disease severity and correlate with the severity of brain inflammation, potential for poor neurological outcomes, and the impact of a cytokine storm on the brain.
- Correlation with Preexisting Neurological Conditions: Patients with preexisting neurological conditions might be more susceptible to severe neurological complications associated with COVID-19, and EEG findings can help identify these at-risk individuals. EEG might also show worsening of baseline EEG abnormalities in patients with preexisting conditions.
Source: [1] Prabhakaran, D., Jayaraman, D., Shaji, K. N., et al. (2020). Acute neurological complications of COVID-19 infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 96, 657–667.
[2] Mutabazi, L., Kadurira, P. L., Rwibanda, M. B., et al. (2020). Pediatric COVID-19 in high-prevalence settings: A retrospective analysis from Nairobi, Kenya. Journal of Infection, 82, e130236.
[3] Qun Qun, Q., Xiaoxia, T., Zhaohui, G., et al. (2020). Intracranial hemorrhage in the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. Neurology, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010727.
[4] Xiao, J., Zhang, S., Dou, F., et al. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 spread through the olfactory bulb to the brain in a juvenile yellow-fever bat. Nature Communications, 11, 3503.
[5] Yeh, Y. C., Lin, C. C., Sheu, J. J., et al. (2020). Central nervous system manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case reports. Neurology, 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010827.
- The study on brain abnormalities in COVID-19 patients found a correlation between the severity of the disease and the extent of EEG abnormalities, particularly brainwave slowing and abnormal electrical discharges.
- Notably, the presence of preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy was found to increase the susceptibility to severe neurological complications associated with COVID-19.
- Intriguingly, the research suggests a connection between the virus's entry point—the nose—and the frontal lobes of the brain, leading to the need for broader EEG testing and exploration of other brain imaging methods.
- Long-term cognitive decline in individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 is a growing concern among experts, with possible links to ongoing neurological issues like "brain fog."
