COVID-19 may cause disruptions in electrical activity within the frontal lobes of the brain.
COVID-19 has shown some disturbing effects on the brain, particularly in severe cases. According to a review of research, abnormalities in the front of the brain are quite common among patients who exhibit neurological symptoms related to the virus.
This study, published in the European Journal of Epilepsy, examined EEG results from over 600 patients from 84 different studies. The most common findings were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges. Interestingly, the researchers found that the extent of these EEG abnormalities positively correlated with the severity of the disease and the presence of preexisting neurological conditions, such as epilepsy.
So, why is there a link between COVID-19 and these specific brain abnormalities? Well, Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study co-authors, suggests that since the virus likely enters through the nose, it's reasonable to suspect a connection with the part of the brain located directly next to that entry point, the frontal lobes.
However, it's important to note that the virus may not be solely responsible for all the damage. Systemic effects of the infection, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, and cardiac arrest, may play a role in EEG abnormalities that extend beyond the frontal lobes.
As for what this means for those who have recovered from COVID-19, some people report ongoing health problems, now labeled "long COVID." Among these issues is "brain fog." While a recent, unpublished study suggests that the infection may have aged people cognitively by around a decade, experts caution that this study does not prove that the infection caused long-term cognitive decline.
Still, findings like these contribute to growing concerns about lasting effects on the brain. "A lot of people think they will get the illness, get well, and everything will go back to normal," says Dr. Haneef, "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."
On a positive note, the review discovered that 56.8% of patients showed improvements in their EEG readings during follow-up.
While the connection between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes isn't fully understood yet, it's clear that further research is needed to fully grasp the long-term implications of this virus on our brains.
- The research published in the European Journal of Epilepsy found a positive correlation between the severity of COVID-19, preexisting neurological conditions such as epilepsy, and abnormal EEG findings.
- A review of research has shown that COVID-19 may have disturbing effects on the brain, particularly the frontal lobes, where abnormalities are quite common among patients who exhibit neurological symptoms.
- The most common findings in EEG results from over 600 patients were the slowing of brain waves and abnormal electrical discharges, commonly found in patients with both COVID-19 and epilepsy.
- Dr. Zulfi Haneef, one of the study co-authors, suggests that the virus enters through the nose and may be connected to the frontal lobes due to their proximity to the entry point.
- Ongoing health problems labeled as "long COVID" include "brain fog," which may be linked to EEG abnormalities observed in patients who have recovered from the virus.
- The connection between COVID-19 and EEG abnormalities in the frontal lobes isn't fully understood, but further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of this virus on our brains and mental health.
