Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Disrupted by COVID-19
Venturing into Uncharted Territories: COVID-19 and Brain Abnormalities
let's dive into the latest findings suggesting that a significant number of patients with COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. These symptoms can lead doctors to refer patients for an EEG test, a non-invasive procedure that monitors the electrical activity of the brain.
As researchers delve deeper into understanding the virus's impact on the brain, some intriguing patterns are emerging. Studies analyze EEG results from hundreds of patients, revealing common abnormalities, particularly within the frontal lobes of the brain.
"Aiight, ya hear me? The frontal lobes? That's nearly bangin' on ol' nasal passage, yeah? So, there might be a connection," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine.
You might wonder, "What does that mean?" Well, since the most likely entry point for the virus is indeed the nose, researchers suspect that the infection could potentially affect the brain structure adjacent to the point of entry. Due to this and other systemic effects, EEG abnormalities extend beyond just the frontal lobes.
"But hey, don't get it twisted – the virus ain't the sole culprit here. Inflammation, low oxygen levels, and other complications might be contributing factors, too," Haneef adds.
When it comes to brain fog, a common complaint among long COVID patients, some research suggests that the infection may cause cognitive decline, aging people's brains by a decade or more. This Stops Sense Dead in its tracks, leaving many to question their cognitive abilities after recovering from the virus.
However, a study published on the preprint server MedRxiv found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who didn't believe they were infected. While this doesn't definitively prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline, it does raise concerns about potential lasting effects on the brain.
And as if that's not enough, studies also show that nearly 70% of patients experience "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain. This adds to the growing body of evidence about the impact of COVID-19 on the neurological system.
On the brighter side, the researchers report that 56.8% of patients with follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. Despite the limitations in accessing raw data from individual studies and potential biases in reporting, the study sheds light on an essential aspect of COVID-19 recovery.
"Ain't nobody wants to be left with long-term issues after beating this virus," continues Haneef. "These findings tell us that we gotta stay vigilant and continue investigating how the virus affects the brain, as well as other aspects of long COVID."
Stay tuned for more updates on the ever-evolving COVID-19 landscape and its effects on our minds and bodies.
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-16775-8[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7555818/[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6399921/
- Researchers are investigating the potential link between COVID-19 and brain abnormalities, such as seizures and strokes, which can lead to referrals for electroencephalography (EEG) tests.
- A significant number of COVID-19 patients have shown EEG abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain, raising concerns about the virus's impact on the brain structure.
- While the virus may not be the sole cause of neurological abnormalities, inflammation, low oxygen levels, and other complications could also play a role.
- Long COVID patients often report brain fog and cognitive decline, with some research suggesting the infection may age the brain by a decade or more.
- A study on MedRxiv found that individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 performed less well on a cognitive test, adding to concerns about potential lasting effects on the brain.
- Nearly 70% of COVID-19 patients exhibit "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain, further evidence of the virus's impact on the neurological system. However, improvements in EEG test results have been observed in 56.8% of patients with follow-up tests.
