COVID-19's impact: Alterations in frontal lobe electrical activity observed in brains
Exploring brain abnormalities linked to COVID-19 severity through electroencephalography (EEG) tests
COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms, such as confusion, seizures, and strokes, could be at a higher risk of brain abnormalities as suggested by research. A study analyzing EEG results from 617 patients showed that around a third of the abnormal findings were in the frontal lobes of the brain, a region located next to the entry point of the virus in the nose.
The brain abnormalities severity seems to correlate with the disease severity and the presence of pre-existing neurological conditions like epilepsy. To gain a closer look at the frontal lobe, researchers suggest performing other types of brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans.
"The virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and unusually sticky blood, may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes," warn researchers.
Approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms. Among these is "brain fog," a condition sometimes reported by people who have recovered from COVID-19. A recent study suggests that the infection may have aged people cognitively by around a decade. However, this study does not prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline.
"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. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study's co-authors. On the positive side, the report reveals that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
While EEG studies reveal correlations between COVID-19 severity and brain abnormalities, particularly in the frontal lobes, and long-term neurological effects associated with the infection, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the underlying mechanisms.
- The study's findings suggest that COVID-19 patients with pre-existing conditions like epilepsy might experience more severe brain abnormalities linked to the disease.
- Researchers believe that patients with severe COVID-19, who exhibit neurological symptoms such as brain fog, could potentially experience long-term cognitive decline.
- Apart from the frontal lobes, researchers warn that systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and sticky blood, may contribute to EEG abnormalities in other regions of the brain.
- To largely minimize long-term neurological issues in COVID-19 patients, continuous monitoring of mental health, health-and-wellness, and neurological-disorders post-recovery remains crucial, as more research is required to fully grasp the underlying mechanisms.
