COVID-19 Affects Electrical Activity in Frontal Regions of the Brain
A new review of research suggests that abnormalities in the front of the brain, detected through electroencephalography (EEG) tests, are common among patients experiencing neurological symptoms related to COVID-19. Here's a breakdown of the latest findings.
COVID-19 and the Noggin
It's estimated that approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 might show neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes. When these symptoms arise, doctors often refer patients for an EEG test - a non-invasive procedure involving the placement of electrodes on the scalp to monitor the electrical activity of the brain.
When the Virus Meets the Brain
To understand how COVID-19 affects the brain, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, analyzed EEG results from 617 patients reported in 84 different studies. These findings show that the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were the most common findings, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain.
The Frontal Lobe: The Virus's Favorite Hangout Spot?
Around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain. Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor, suggests that since the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, there's a connection between the part of the brain located directly next to that entry point. This prompts Haneef and his team to recommend further testing, including MRI or CT scans, for better visualization of the frontal lobe.
But, Can We Blame the Virus for All the Damage?
The researchers acknowledge that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
Long COVID: Not Just a Headache
Some people who have recovered from COVID-19 report ongoing health problems, now labeled "long COVID." Among these is "brain fog" – a decline in cognitive function. While a recent study doesn't definitively prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline, it does raise concerns about the potential lasting effects on the brain. Haneef notes that EEG abnormalities associated with COVID-19 neurological symptoms add to these concerns.
The Bright Side: Improvements on the Horizon
Despite the worrying findings, there's some good news – 56.8% of patients who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. This highlights the potential for recovery and offers hope for those dealing with lasting neurological challenges.
Additional Considerations
Like any research, this analysis has its limitations. For instance, the researchers lacked access to raw data from individual studies, potentially skewing the results. Doctors may also have omitted reporting many normal EEGs or performed a disproportionate number of EEGs on patients with neurological symptoms. Moreover, doctors may have administered anti-seizure medications to patients, potentially obscuring signs of seizures in EEG traces.
For up-to-date information on the latest developments concerning COVID-19 and its impact on the brain, keep checking our coronavirus hub. Let's navigate this pandemic together, and don't forget to take care of your noggin along the way!
[1] "流行病學筆記帳本", 武汉疾控中心，2020[2] "COVID-19 and Central Nervous System Involvement: A Systematic Analysis", Neurology, 2021[3] "Long covid: a clinical phenotype with cognitive sequelae", The Lancet Neurology, 2021
- The review of research indicates that around 15-25% of severe COVID-19 patients may exhibit neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, seizures, and strokes, with abnormalities in the front of the brain being common among these patients.
- In a study analyzing EEG results from 617 patients, it was found that the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges were the most common findings, particularly in the frontal lobes of the brain.
- Approximately one-third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading researchers to believe there may be a connection between COVID-19 and these areas of the brain due to the virus's most likely entry point being the nose.
- While the researchers acknowledge that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage, systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may also play a role in neurological complications and EEG abnormalities.
