Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19's impact on the brain is a hot topic of research. A study published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy reviewed EEG test results from 617 patients, revealing common abnormalities in brain activity, particularly in the frontal lobe.
These findings suggest that COVID-19 may take a toll on the brain, especially in severe cases. With approximately 15-25% of patients experiencing neurological symptoms, EEG tests might become essential for diagnosing and monitoring those affected.
Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine, explains that the virus likely enters through the nose, and since the frontal lobe is situated close by, there appears to be a connection. He recommends using EEG tests and other brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, to get a closer look at the frontal lobe.
The virus is believed to indirectly cause the damage rather than directly. Systemic issues like inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest may play a role in EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
In up to 70% of patients, researchers found "diffuse slowing," a sign of generalized electrical dysfunction in the brain.
Long COVID, or lingering health issues following recovery, includes "brain fog." A recent, as-yet-unpublished study found that individuals who attributed their symptoms to COVID-19 performed poorly on cognitive tests compared to those who didn't believe they were infected. While this study doesn't prove long-term cognitive decline, it raises concerns about long-term effects on the brain.
These EEG abnormalities add to the concerns, as they too are linked to neurological symptoms of COVID-19. "There might be long-term issues," Dr. Haneef warns. On the positive side, about 56.8% of patients showed improvements in follow-up EEG tests.
The study had limitations, and direct attribution of frontal lobe EEG changes to COVID-19 severity isn't yet thoroughly established. However, the association between EEG abnormalities, specifically in the frontal lobe, and disease severity remains an area of ongoing research.
In summary, COVID-19 may cause neurological complications, and EEG tests can help diagnose and monitor them. Moreover, frontal lobe abnormalities are plausible indicators of disease severity due to the brain's sensitivity to systemic illness. However, there is currently limited direct evidence specifically linking isolated frontal lobe EEG changes to COVID-19 severity, and further research is required to better define this relationship.
- The study on COVID-19 patients found that about 15-25% of them experienced neurological symptoms, and these symptoms are linked to EEG abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobe.
- Researchers believe that systemic issues, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest, may contribute to EEG abnormalities not just in the frontal lobes but throughout the brain.
- The concerns about long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain are increasing, as studies have revealed long COVID symptoms, including "brain fog," and EEG abnormalities that persist even after recovery in up to 70% of patients.
