Brain's frontal lobe electrical activity may encounter interruptions due to COVID-19 infection.
While you're probably more familiar with Electroencephalography (EEG) tests for diagnosing epilepsy or sleep disorders, these brain-monitoring devices are also being used to explore the mysterious nuances of COVID-19. A recent review of research suggests that EEG tests reveal some intriguing connections between the coronavirus and the brain.
The Lowdown on Neurological Simptoms and COVID-19
Approximately 15-25% of patients suffering from severe COVID-19 may experience neurological symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, impaired consciousness, seizures, and strokes. Given that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, researchers took a closer look at the electrical activity of the brain in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms.
The Brain on COVID-19: On the Radar
To investigate the effects of COVID-19 on the brain, a team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh analyzed EEG results from 617 patients, gathered in 84 different studies. The research findings showed that the virus may not be directly responsible for all the damage, with systemic effects of the infection, including inflammation, low oxygen levels, unusually "sticky" blood, and cardiac arrest, possibly playing a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
However, the research team did find the most common abnormalities in the frontal lobes of the brain.
"We know that the most likely entry point for the virus is the nose, so there seems to be a connection between the part of the brain that is located directly next to that entry point," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor and co-author of the study. "These findings tell us that we need to try EEG on a wider range of patients, as well as other types of brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, that will give us a closer look at the frontal lobe."
Brain Fog: The Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
As we continue to grapple with the aftermath of COVID-19, some people who have recovered from the virus report ongoing health problems, popularly known as long COVID. Among these issues is "brain fog," a term used to describe difficulties with thinking, memory, and concentration.
A recent study, yet to be peer-reviewed, suggests that the infection may have aged people cognitively by around a decade. While the study does not definitively prove that the infection causes long-term cognitive decline, it does highlight concerns about lasting effects on the brain. According to Dr. Haneef, the presence of EEG abnormalities associated with the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 only adds to these concerns.
"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, which is something we have suspected, and now we are finding more evidence to back that up," Dr. Haneef adds. On the positive side, the researchers report that 56.8% of those who had follow-up EEG tests showed improvements.
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The Bottom Line
While specific EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms are not yet detailed, EEG could be a valuable tool for monitoring neurological changes, potentially correlating with disease severity and pre-existing neurological conditions. However, targeted studies are needed to establish definitive conclusions. In the meantime, it's crucial to remain vigilant about the potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain and seek prompt medical attention if you experience any neurological issues.
- Despite being primarily associated with epilepsy and sleep disorders, Electroencephalography (EEG) tests are being used to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the brain, as they reveal intriguing connections between the coronavirus and neurological symptoms like seizures and strokes in up to 25% of severe COVID-19 patients.
- In a study analyzing EEG results from 617 patients, researchers found that the coronavirus may not directly cause all brain damage, with systemic effects such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, and cardiac arrest potentially contributing to EEG abnormalities, especially in the frontal lobes of the brain.
- The presence of EEG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with neurological symptoms raises concerns about long-term cognitive effects from the virus, as some studies suggest it may cause cognitive decline similar to aging by a decade. Further research is needed, but prompt medical attention should be sought if any neurological issues arise, as EEG could play a role in monitoring neurological changes potentially linked to disease severity and pre-existing medical conditions like epilepsy, sleep disorders, and other neurological disorders.
