COVID-19 Impacts Electrical Functions in Frontal Lobes of the Brain
COVID-19 and its impact on the brain have been a hot topic in medical research, specifically focusing on neurological symptoms and associated EEG abnormalities.
According to a recent review published in the European Journal of Epilepsy, around a third of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, which can include seizures, strokes, and confusion. For these patients, doctors may suggest an EEG test to monitor electrical activity in the brain.
The study, led by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh, analyzed EEG results from over 600 patients reported in 84 different studies. The median age of patients who underwent an EEG was 61.3 years, and two-thirds were male.
The researchers found that the most prevalent EEG abnormalities were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Remarkably, they noted a positive correlation between the severity of the disease and the extent of EEG abnormalities, especially for those with preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy.
One interesting finding was that around a third of EEG abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes of the brain, which suggests a connection with COVID-19's most common entry point—the nose. However, the study authors caution that the virus may not be solely responsible for all the damage. Other factors, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may also contribute to EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
For those who have recovered from COVID-19, lingering health issues, known as "long COVID," are becoming increasingly apparent. Among these problems is "brain fog," which may stem from cognitive decline caused by the infection. A recent study found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they had contracted the virus. While this study does not prove long-term cognitive decline, it does raise concerns about the lasting impact of COVID-19 on the brain.
Fortunately, the review found that 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had some limitations, such as access to raw data from individual studies, potential omissions of normal EEGs, and the use of anti-seizure medications that may have obscured seizure signs in EEG traces.
While the precise correlation between EEG abnormalities, disease severity, and frontal lobe involvement in COVID-19 patients remains to be established, these findings suggest that further investigation of the brain's response to COVID-19 is crucial for understanding and addressing the long-term effects of the disease.
- This study found that around a third of patients with severe COVID-19, who may also have preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy, experienced EEG abnormalities, with slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges being the most prevalent.
- The study also noted a positive correlation between the severity of COVID-19 and the extent of EEG abnormalities, especially for those with preexisting neurological conditions.
- Remarkably, around a third of EEG abnormalities occurred in the frontal lobes of the brain, which suggests a connection with COVID-19's most common entry point—the nose.
- Long-term cognitive decline is among the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on the brain, as evidenced by a recent study finding that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus.
