Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected by COVID-19
Approximately 15-25% of individuals with severe COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms, according to an analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) test results. This review, conducted by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, examined the brain activity of 617 patients.
The researchers identified the frontal lobes as the region with the most frequent abnormalities. "Given that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, there appears to be a connection between the frontal lobes and COVID-19," explains Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study's co-authors.
The extent of EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobe correlated positively with the severity of the disease and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy. The slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were the most common findings.
Notably, systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may also contribute to EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Of the patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests, 56.8% showed improvements. However, the study had several limitations, including the potential skewing of results due to doctors omitting to report many normal EEGs and administering anti-seizure medications to patients suspected of having seizures, which may have obscured signs of seizures in their EEG traces.
The analysis of these EEG results adds to growing concerns about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain. Some individuals who have recovered from the virus report ongoing health problems, now labeled "long COVID," including "brain fog."
A recent study, though not yet peer-reviewed or published, suggests that the infection may have aged people cognitively by around a decade. However, experts caution that this study does not definitively prove that COVID-19 causes long-term cognitive decline.
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[1] Hanley, Jim (2020). COVID-19 in Children: What We Know So Far. Medscape, 4 August. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/940302
[5] Pleasure, Sex, and Brain Activity: What’s the Connection? (2021). Psychology Today, April 29. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-neuroscience-pleasure/202104/pleasure-sex-and-brain-activity-whats-the-connection
- The analysis of EEG test results from patients with severe COVID-19 revealed a significant connection between the virus and neurological conditions such as epilepsy, as epilepsy seizures were observed more frequently in patients with abnormalities in the frontal lobes.
- The study also suggests that COVID-19 may have longer-term effects on overall health and wellness, with some recovered individuals experiencing symptoms like "brain fog," which is a type of neurological disorder.
- While more research is needed to confirm the long-term cognitive effects of COVID-19, preliminary studies indicate that the infection may contribute to the development of other medical conditions, including neurological disorders and various cognitive problems.
