Brain's Frontal Lobes Affected by COVID-19: Electrical Activity Disruption Reported
The review of scientific studies suggests a correlation between COVID-19 and brain abnormalities, as revealed by Electroencephalography (EEG) tests. Around a third of the identified issues affect the frontal lobes of the brain, leading experts to suspect a link between this brain region and the virus' entry point in the nose.
According to estimates, approximately 15-25% of patients with severe COVID-19 experience neurological symptoms such as headaches, confusion, impaired consciousness, and seizures. To explore the impact of COVID-19 on the brain, researchers analyzed EEG results from 617 patients across 84 studies.
The study found that the extent of EEG abnormalities was positively associated with the severity of the disease and existing neurological conditions like epilepsy. The most common findings were slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges.
However, it's essential to note that the virus might not be solely responsible for the brain damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, etc., could contribute to EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
The impact of COVID-19 on brain function might lead to long-lasting issues, a phenomenon now referred to as "long COVID" that includes symptoms like "brain fog." Although further research is needed for conclusive evidence, these findings suggest potential long-term neurological impacts.
On a positive note, roughly 56.8% of patients showed improvements in follow-up EEG tests. However, the researchers noted that their analysis had several limitations, such as the lack of raw data from individual studies and potential skewing of results due to disproportionate EEG tests on patients with neurological symptoms.
While direct research on the link between COVID-19 severity and EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes is still limited, there is growing evidence of potential neurological impacts from COVID-19, warranting further investigation.
The study reveals a prevalence of 15-25% in COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms, experiencing neurological complications like epilepsy seizures and brain abnormalities, which are linked to medical-conditions such as headaches, confusion, impaired consciousness, and seizures. The investigation of COVID-19's impact on the brain provides evidence that the virus may exacerbate existing neurological conditions like epilepsy, as demonstrated by EEG tests revealing slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Health-and-wellness concerns regarding long COVID, which encompasses persistent neurological issues like "brain fog," call for further scientific exploration into the potential long-term neurological impacts of this virus.
