Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity May Be Affected by COVID-19
Severe COVID-19 infections may lead to neurological symptoms, including seizures, strokes, and cognitive impairments, according to a review of research. This reputable review, published in the Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, examined EEG test results from 617 patients with COVID-19 across 84 separate studies.
The review found a positive correlation between EEG abnormalities and the severity of the disease, particularly when patients had existing neurological conditions such as epilepsy. In approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19, neurological symptoms can occur. Doctors may refer these patients for an EEG test, which involves the placement of electrodes on the scalp to monitor the electrical activity of the brain.
Researchers discovered a high proportion of abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain, suggesting a potential link between the virus's entry point in the nose and the frontal lobe. However, it is unclear whether the virus is directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role.
The study found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients, which could be a sign of ongoing neurological damage even after recovery.
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled long COVID. Among these is "brain fog," and a recent study found that those who claim they have had COVID may have cognitive decline, equivalent to aging someone cognitively by around a decade. This finding, when combined with the EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 neurological symptoms, adds to concerns about the potential long-term impacts on the brain.
However, it is essential to note that this cross-sectional study does not definitively prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline. Still, it does raise questions about the potential for 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, suggesting that some neurological damage could resolve over time.
Limits to the study include the lack of access to raw data from individual studies, potential omissions of normal EEGs, and possible bias in the number of EEGs performed on patients with neurological symptoms. Furthermore, doctors often administered anti-seizure medications to patients with suspected seizures, potentially obscuring signs of seizures in their EEG readings.
Researchers emphasize the need for further investigation into the specific impact of COVID-19 on EEG patterns in the frontal lobes, as well as longitudinal studies tracking EEG changes over time in COVID-19 patients. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind long-term neurological complications may help identify potential interventions to mitigate their effects.
For the latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, visit our coronavirus hub.
- Severe cases of COVID-19 can lead to neurological symptoms such as seizures, strokes, and cognitive impairments, as highlighted in a review published in the Journal of Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.
- The review revealed a correlation between COVID-19-related EEG abnormalities and the severity of the disease, especially in patients with pre-existing neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- The research found "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of nearly 70% of patients' brains, indicating possible ongoing neurological damage even after recovery.
- Concerns about the potential long-term impacts on the brain from COVID-19 are growing, as some recovered individuals report ongoing health problems, including cognitive decline, which may be equivalent to aging someone cognitively by around a decade.
