Brain's frontal lobes electrical activity disrupted by COVID-19 illness
In a review of existing research, neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, and seizures, are common among severe COVID-19 patients, with an estimated 15-25% of patients experiencing such symptoms. To investigate the impact of the virus on the brain, researchers analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) results from 617 patients, as reported in 84 different studies.
The median age of these patients was 61.3 years, with two-thirds being males. The most frequent findings included the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. These abnormalities were more pronounced in patients with preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, and correlated with the severity of the disease.
Approximately a third of the reported EEG abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes of the brain. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, co-author of the study and assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, suggested that this could be due to the virus entering the body through the nose, which is located near the frontal lobes. He urged for further EEG testing and brain imaging to better understand the virus's effects on the frontal lobe.
However, it's worth noting that the virus may not be solely responsible for all the damage observed in the EEG results. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also contribute to the observed EEG abnormalities.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, known as 'long COVID.' One of these issues is 'brain fog.' A recent study, while not yet peer-reviewed, found that individuals who believed they had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not. This suggests that the infection may cause cognitive decline, although more research is needed to confirm this.
In a positive note, 56.8% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the review had several limitations, including limited access to individual study data and potential biases in the reporting of EEG results.
Individuals with preexisting neurological conditions or those experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms should pay close attention to any neurological symptoms and consult their healthcare providers if concerning signs appear.
Health experts stressed the importance of ongoing research to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain and to develop effective strategies for early detection and treatment of neurological manifestations.
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- Severe COVID-19 patients often experience neurological symptoms like seizures, headaches, and confusion, with an estimated 15-25% of patients experiencing such symptoms.
- Researchers studied the impact of the coronavirus on the brain by analyzing electroencephalography (EEG) results from 617 patients, finding abnormalities that were more pronounced in patients with preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
- Approximately a third of the reported EEG abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes of the brain, suggesting the virus might enter the body through the nose, located near the frontal lobes.
- Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, including brain fog, cognitive decline, and long COVID, emphasizing the need for further research on the long-term effects of the virus on the brain.
