Brain's frontal lobes may experience electrical disruptions due to COVID-19
(Get the scoop on those COVID-19 brain issues!)
COVID-19 ain't just wreckin' your lungs, buddy — it's messin' with your noggin, too! Research shows that those who end up with neurological woes from the virus often have oddities in their brain activities, as detected by electroencephalography (EEG).
Now, 'bout 15-25% of folks who get pretty sick with COVID might experience symptoms like headaches, confusion, and seizures. When doctors come across these issues, they might decide to stick some electrodes on the scalp to check out the electrical shenanigans goin' on in the brain (EEG test, y'see).
Scientists from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh took a peek at EEG test results from over 600 COVID-19 patients from 84 studies. They found that some of the most common things they spotted were slow brain waves and weird electrical blips. Guess where they found these abnormalities the most? Yup, you guessed it — the frontal lobe of the brain!
Now, why the frontal lobe, you ask? Well, some doctors think that since COVID most likely slides in through our noses, it only makes sense that the part of the brain right next to this entry point might get hit the hardest.
But here's the kicker — the virus might not be directly to blame for all the damage. Systemic issues like inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and heart problems could also be messin' with the brain scans. And, FYI, the virus could be causing all sorts of abnormalities throughout the brain, not just in the frontal lobe.
Some folks who've gotten over COVID are complainin' about lingering health problems, now dubbed "long COVID." Among these issues is something called "brain fog." A study, although not yet peer-reviewed, suggests that individuals who think they've had COVID might not perform as well on a cognitive test as those who never contracted the virus.
Now, if you're worrying about your brain, maybe take a deep breath — around half of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements! But ya never know, right? There might just be some long-term issues poppin' up, which is a growing concern among scientists.
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[1] Frontal lobe abnormalities and COVID-19: Current evidence and interpretations.[2] COVID-19 and the brain: When the "viral storm" reaches the CNS.[3] Cognitive impairment and EEG changes in stress-related disorders: The role of the frontal lobe.[4] The frontal lobe and emotional regulation: An EEG perspective.
- COVID-19 not only affects the lungs, but it can also lead to neurological disorders such as epilepsy seizures, headaches, and confusion, with abnormalities commonly observed in the frontal lobe of the brain during EEG tests.
- Studies have shown that systemic issues like inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and heart problems could also contribute to the brain abnormalities observed in COVID-19 patients.
- The frontal lobe of the brain might be particularly susceptible to COVID-19 due to the virus likely entering through the nose, and research suggests that the virus could be causing a variety of abnormalities throughout the brain, including those related to medical conditions like health-and-wellness, and neurological-disorders, such as brain fog and cognitive impairment.
