Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity May Be Affected by COVID-19
COVID-19's impact on the brain is a hot topic in the medical community, with research pointing to abnormalities in brain activity among patients showing neurological symptoms. In a recent review, researchers analyzed EEG results from over 600 patients and found that these abnormalities often clustered in the frontal lobes, leading some experts to suspect a link between the virus' entry point in the nose and the affected brain area.
According to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, a neurology/neurophysiology assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, "We know that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, so there seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to that entry point." This discovery highlights the need for further exploration using EEG tests and other imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans.
The virus might not be solely responsible for the observed brain damage, as systemic effects of the infection can also contribute to EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes. Over two-thirds of the patients in the study displayed "diffuse slowing" in their brain's background electrical activity.
Some individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 experience ongoing health problems, often referred to as 'long COVID.' Among these issues is brain fog, where individuals struggle with cognitive functions. A recent, yet-to-be-published study suggests that COVID-19 may age the brain cognitively by around a decade. Experts are cautious about interpreting this study as definitive proof of long-term cognitive decline but express concerns about potential lasting effects on the brain.
Dr. Haneef adds, "These findings tell us that there might be long-term issues, which is something we have suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up." On a positive note, roughly 57% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements in their abnormalities over time. However, the researchers note that their analysis has limitations, such as access to individual study data and potential biases in the reporting and performance of EEG tests.
In contrast with the common belief that recovering patients will return to their normal selves, research like this suggests that long-term neurological issues could be more prevalent than initially thought, warranting continued investigation. For more information on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, visit our coronavirus hub.
- The connection between COVID-19 and epilepsy seizures is gaining attention in the medical community, as research indicates abnormal brain activities among patients with neurological symptoms may be related to the virus.
- Dr. Zulfi Haneef, a neurology/neurophysiology assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, suggests that the virus' entry point in the nose might explain the clustering of abnormalities in the frontal lobes.
- Beyond the frontal lobes, systemic effects of COVID-19 can contribute to EEG abnormalities, with over two-thirds of patients in a study displaying "diffuse slowing" in their brain's background electrical activity.
- Long COVID, a collection of ongoing health problems experienced by some individuals who have recovered from the disease, is associated with cognitive decline, such as brain fog, which might be caused by long-term effects on the brain due to the virus.
