COVID-19 may interfere with electrical activity in the frontal lobe areas of the brain.
The Link Between COVID-19 and Brain Abnormalities
Many COVID-19 patients present neurological symptoms, and research suggests these are often linked to abnormalities in the front of the brain. According to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, these abnormalities might be connected to the virus's entry point, the nose.
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 experience neurological issues like headaches, confusion, and seizures. Doctors may perform an Electroencephalography (EEG) test to investigate these issues. EEG involves monitoring the brain's electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp.
Researchers analyzed the EEG results of 617 patients from 84 different studies to understand COVID-19's effect on the brain. The median age of these patients was 61.3 years, and two-thirds were males.
The study reveals the most common findings were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. The extent of these EEG abnormalities largely depends on the severity of the disease and any pre-existing neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Interestingly, around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain. The lead researcher suggests that wider use of EEG tests and other brain imaging techniques, like MRI or CT scans, may help identify more cases and provide a closer look at the frontal lobe.
It's worth noting that the virus might not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, might contribute to EEG abnormalities.
The study also identified "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients.
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled long COVID. Among these is "brain fog." A cross-sectional study uploaded to the preprint server MedRxiv found that individuals who claim to have had COVID performed less well on an online cognitive test than those who did not believe they had contracted the virus.
According to experts contacted by the Science Media Centre in London, this study does not prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline. However, it highlights concerns about long-term effects on the brain. The study's authors note these findings add to these concerns, suggesting long-term issues might persist post-COVID-19 recovery.
On a positive note, 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the research had several limitations, including lack of access to raw data from individual studies and potential skewing of results due to selective EEG testing of patients with neurological symptoms.
In conclusion, EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes might be associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19, adding to the concerns about long-term effects on the brain. Further research is needed to understand these abnormalities and their potential implications for COVID-19 recovery.
- The coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, may lead to brain abnormalities, particularly in the front of the brain, possibly linking to its entry point in the nose.
- Approximately one-fourth of severe COVID-19 patients experience neurological conditions such as seizures, headaches, and confusion, and doctors may use an Electroencephalography (EEG) test to examine these symptoms.
- Researchers analyzed EEG test results of 617 patients and found the most common findings were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges, which largely depend on the severity of the disease and any pre-existing neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- Long COVID, a group of ongoing health problems reported by some recovered COVID-19 patients, may include brain fog, and a study suggests individuals who claim to have had COVID-19 perform less well on a cognitive test, highlighting concerns about long-term effects on the brain.
