Brain's frontal lobes can experience electrical disruptions due to COVID-19 infection.
COViD-19 neurological symptoms may be linked to brain abnormalities, according to a new review of research. The study, which analyzed EEG results from over 600 patients, found that around 15-25% of severe CoViD-19 cases are associated with neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, and seizures.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh discovered that the most frequent EEG abnormalities were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Moreover, the extent of the EEG abnormalities correlated positively with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
Two-thirds of the study participants were males, with a median age of 61.3 years. Nearly a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, leading researchers to suggest that this area may be the virus's likely entry point.
While the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage, systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusual blood stickiness, and cardiac arrest may play a role in EEG abnormalities beyond the frontal lobes.
This new finding adds to concerns about potential long-term issues for patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The virus has been linked to ongoing health problems, now known as long COVID, and one such symptom is "brain fog." A recent unpublished study uploaded to MedRxiv suggests that the infection may have aged people cognitively by approximately a decade.
According to experts, this study does not prove that COVID-19 causes long-term cognitive decline. However, it highlights the need for further research into the disease's effects on the brain.
On the positive side, over half of the patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests showed improvements. However, the study had several limitations, including lack of access to individual study raw data, omission of normal EEGs, and over-administration of anti-seizure medications.
Continued research and monitoring will be crucial to understand the relationship between CoViD-19 and long-term EEG abnormalities, as well as the development of technologies to aid in their management remotely.
- The link between COVID-19 and neurological disorders, such as epilepsy seizures, has been further explored in a study that found around 15-25% of severe COVID-19 cases are associated with such symptoms.
- The study, which analyzed EEG results, discovered that the most frequent EEG abnormalities were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges, often seen in neurological conditions like epilepsy.
- Furthermore, this research highlights the need for ongoing health-and-wellness monitoring, particularly in regards to long-term effects on the brain and cognitive functioning, as COVID-19 has been linked to potential long-term issues like brain fog and symptoms of long COVID.