Brain's Frontal Lobes Electrical Activity Disrupted by COVID-19 Impact
Recent Findings Suggest COVID-19 May Affect the Frontal Lobes of the Brain
desperately seeks covid-19 truth, they'll inevitably stumble upon some intriguing findings about the neurological symptoms associated with the disease. Research suggests that abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain, identified by electroencephalography (EEG) tests, are frighteningly common among patients experiencing these symptoms.
Oh, the myriad ways this wretched virus can mess with us! Some estimates suggest that approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 might endure neurological hellscape, ranging from headaches and confusion to seizures and strokes.
Doctors, seeing these neurological nightmares, may refer patients for an EEG test. This procedure involves placing little electrodes on your scalp to keep tabs on your brain's electrical activity.
Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and the University of Pittsburgh, PA, embarked on a gargantuan task, analyzing EEG results from no less than 617 patients, reported in a whopping 84 different studies.
The majority of these test subjects were males aged 61.3 years, as if" middle-aged men were the ones most susceptible to this affliction. The most frequent findings they identified? Slowed brain waves and bizarre electrical discharges.
Here's the kicker: the severity of the EEG abnormalities relationally enhanced with the intensity of the disease, as well as the presence of preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy. These findings make us question whether this virus is just a guest in our bodies, or a ruthless vandal wreaking havoc on our gray matter.
These researchers published their review in the prestigious journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy.
But here's where things get really interesting: the virus may not be solely responsible for these abnormalities. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, reduced oxygen levels, unusually sticky blood, and even cardiac arrest, could be the root causes of the EEG abnormalities extending beyond the frontal lobes.
The study discovered "diffuse slowing" in the background electrical activity of the whole brain in almost 70% of patients.
Now, let's meditate on that excruciating "brain fog" some individuals experience long after they've bid farewell to the virus. This phenomenon is among the health problems survivors endure, now collectively known as "long COVID." Some researchers claim this cross-sectional study reveals cognitive decline aged people by around a decade.
Well, the presence of EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 doesn't alleviate our concerns about long-lasting cognitive impairments, according to Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and one of the study's co-authors.
"Many seem to believe that they'll succumb to the illness, recover, and return to normalcy," says Dr. Haneef. "But these findings caution us that there could be long-term complications -something we've long been suspecting, and now we're gathering more evidence to support that theory."
On the bright side, over half (56.8%) of the test subjects who had follow-up EEG tests demonstrated improvement.
And before you despair, remember that their analysis came with several limitations, such as lack of access to individual patient data, potential underreporting of normal EEGs, and the use of anti-seizure meds, which may have obscured signs of seizures in the EEG traces.
- The study by researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients and identified that seizures could be a potential neurological condition associated with COVID-19, especially in those with preexisting epilepsy.
- The presence of EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients suggests a possible link between the virus and mental health issues, including epilepsy seizures, and other neurological disorders.
- The review of the study on the prestigious journal Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy highlights the need for further research into the long-term effects of COVID-19 on brain health and wellness, particularly the risk of cognitive decline and mental health issues.
- The findings suggest that COVID-19 may not only affect the frontal lobes of the brain but could potentially impact the whole brain, leading to long-term cognitive impairments and mental health concerns, such as epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
