Brain's frontal lobes' electrical activity may be affected by COVID-19 infection.
In the world of medicine, new findings about COVID-19 keep emerging as researchers strive to understand the novel coronavirus and its impact on the human body. One intriguing area of study is the connection between COVID-19 and neurological symptoms, particularly those that show up in Electroencephalography (EEG) tests. Let's take a closer look at what the research tells us so far.
First, let's address some essential statistics. Roughly 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, according to available data. These symptoms can range from headaches and confusion to delirium, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. When dealing with neurological symptoms, healthcare providers may order an EEG test, which involves placing electrodes on the scalp to monitor the electrical activity of the brain.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, compiled in 84 different studies. The primary findings from this study were that the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were common among patients with COVID-19.
One interesting observation was the prevalence of abnormalities in the frontal lobes, with about a third of the observed findings centered in this area of the brain.
"There seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to the entry point for the virus, which is the nose," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, an assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors.
However, it's essential to note that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage observed in EEG tests. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The research findings suggest that those who have survived COVID-19 and are experiencing ongoing health problems, known as "long COVID," might have long-term issues involving cognitive impairment, including "brain fog." A recent study uploaded to the preprint server MedRxiv found that individuals who claim to have had COVID performed poorly on an online cognitive test compared to those who did not believe they contracted the virus.
These EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 neurological symptoms further fuel concerns about long-term effects on the brain. "A lot of people think they will get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal, but these findings tell us that there might be long-term issues," says Dr. Haneef.
On a positive note, about 56.8% of the patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had several limitations, including a lack of access to raw data from individual studies and potential biases in the reporting of normal versus abnormal EEGs.
As we continue to learn more about COVID-19 and its impact on the human brain, it's crucial to stay informed and prioritize our health. For more advice on prevention and treatment, visit our coronavirus hub.
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- In the world of medicine, research continues to reveal new findings about COVID-19 and its impact on the brain, particularly neurological symptoms seen in Electroencephalography (EEG) tests.
- Statistics show that around 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes.
- Researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients and found that slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were common among COVID-19 patients, with a third of abnormalities observed in the frontal lobes of the brain.
- While the virus might not be directly responsible for all EEG abnormalities, systemic effects like inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest may also contribute.
- Concerns about long-term effects on the brain arise as researchers suggest that those who have survived COVID-19 and are experiencing ongoing health problems might have long-term cognitive impairment issues.
- The study found that improvements were seen in about 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests, but it had limitations due to a lack of access to raw data and potential biases in EEG reporting.
