Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Potentially Affected by COVID-19
Wondering how the coronavirus might be messing with your grey matter? Let's delve into the latest findings.
A recent study reviewed research on electroencephalography (EEG) tests among patients exhibiting neurological symptoms due to COVID-19. The study, published in the journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients across 84 studies.
Drumroll, please... The most striking finding? A whopping third of the abnormalities cropped up in the frontal lobes. Yep, you read that right. With the virus most likely invading our noses, it seems there's a connection between this entry point and the frontal lobes directly next to it.
But hold your horses, mate. While the virus might be the culprit, other systemic effects of the infection –– like inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest –– could also be responsible for EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
So, what exactly are these EEG abnormalities, and what do they mean for us? Well, the most common findings were slowing of brain waves and odd electrical discharges. The extent of these anomalies correlated positively with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Now, you might be thinking, "So what if I have these weird brain waves? Will I end up with long-term issues?" Well, dear reader, here's where things get a bit murky. A recent, unpublished study found that people who claim to have had COVID performed poorly on an online cognitive test. The authors suggest that the infection may have aged people's brains by approximately a decade.
Not soooo great, right? But fear not! Approximately 56.8% of patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. That's a silver lining, my friend.
Now, you're probably wondering, "Why should I care about this EEG biz? Can't I just get a CT or an MRI?" Good question! EEGs provide valuable information that these other imaging techniques might miss, particularly in the frontal lobe, which we now know plays a significant role in COVID-19 neurological symptoms.
So, here's the skinny: COVID-19 can wreak havoc on the brain, and it's crucial to be aware of this potential impact. While research is ongoing, we can take comfort in the progress being made to understand the disease and its neurological manifestations.
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- Interestingly, a third of the abnormalities identified in EEG tests among COVID-19 patients were found in the frontal lobes, suggesting a potential connection between the virus and this brain region.
- Although the coronavirus might be responsible for some EEG abnormalities, other factors such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest could also contribute to these anomalies in various areas of the brain.
- The most common EEG findings among COVID-19 patients were slowing of brain waves and odd electrical discharges, which were more prevalent in patients with severe disease and preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- Recently, a study hinted that people who have recovered from COVID-19 may experience delayed cognitive functioning, as they performed poorly on an online cognitive test, with the authors estimating an aging effect of about a decade on the brain.
- Encouragingly, around 56.8% of COVID-19 patients showed improvements in their EEG test results during follow-ups, offering some reassurance about the potential for recovery.
- While other imaging techniques like CT or MRI can offer insight into brain structures, EEGs are valuable, as they may provide unique information about the frontal lobe, which has emerged as a significant player in COVID-19 neurological symptoms.
