Disruption of Electrical Activity in Frontal Lobes of Brain Possible Due to COVID-19 Impact
Never-Ending Quagmire: COVID-19's Tangle with the Brain
Let's dive into the murky waters of COVID-19's impact on the human brain, shall we? Riding the viral storm, about 15-25% of the heavily afflicted victims encounter neurological nightmares, ranging from simple headaches to strokes and seizures[1]. These poor souls are often subjected to Electroencephalography (EEG) tests, a non-invasive method that monitors brain activity by placing electrodes on the scalp[1].
In a recent analysis, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh scrutinized EEG data from 617 patients across 84 different studies[1]. The typical age of these patients was 61.3, and two-thirds were men[1]. The investigators identified a series of unsettling discoveries[1]:
- A substantial 47% of the abnormal EEG findings flared up in the frontal lobes, holding prime real estate adjacent to COVID-19's favorite entry point—the nose[1].
- The degree of EEG abnormalities escalated proportionally with the disease's severity[1].
- Patients grappling with preexisting neurological conditions, like epilepsy, also demonstrated more significant disruptions[1].
"It teases us to experiment with EEG on a broader spectrum of patients, and additionally, explore other forms of brain imaging, such as MRI or CT scans, to further examine the frontal lobe," says Dr. Zulfi Haneef, assistant professor of neurology/neurophysiology at Baylor[1]. However, the researchers acknowledge that the virus may not be the sole culprit. It could be mere collateral damage resulting from systemic effects, such as inflammation, low oxygen levels, sticky blood, or cardiac arrest[1].
After recruiting soldiers in the brain fight, the researchers detected "diffuse slowing" in almost 70% of patients' background electrical activity[1]. Now, brace yourself, folks, because this is where things get a bit creepy: those who reported experiencing COVID-19 symptoms months later complained about "brain fog." It's a cognitive haze that's left an indelible mark on countless individuals[1].
In a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed study, researchers found that those who claimed to have recovered from COVID-19 walked away with intellectual impairments equivalent to a decade of aging[2]. The study doesn't definitively prove causation but serves as a chilling reminder of the disease's potential long-lasting impacts on the brain[2].
"These findings give us a glimpse into long-term problems, something we had suspected all along. Now, we have more evidence to back it up," Dr. Haneef stresses[1]. On the flip side, the study reported improvements in 56.8% of the patients who underwent follow-up EEG tests.
Limited access to raw data, an overrepresentation of EEGs performed on patients exhibiting neurological symptoms, and the administration of anti-seizure medication in suspected patients are among the study's significant limitations[1]. With these caveats in mind, the winding road to understanding the neuro-COVID connection persists.
The Cognitive Labyrinth:)[3]
- Neurological afflictions related to COVID-19 might be a glimpse into alterations in brain function and structure.
- Studies on various neurological conditions or diseases might inspire insights into how viral infections, like COVID-19, could influence brain activity patterns.
- More research is required to firmly establish correlation between COVID-19 severity and EEG anomalies in the frontal lobes.
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- The study on Electroencephalography (EEG) data from 617 patients revealed that around 47% of the abnormal EEG findings occurred in the frontal lobes, a region adjacent to COVID-19's preferred entry point – the nose.
- The degree of EEG abnormalities was found to escalate proportionally with the disease's severity, and patients with preexisting neurological conditions like epilepsy demonstrated more significant disruptions.
- The cognitive haze, or brain fog, reported by some individuals months after recovering from COVID-19 could be indicative of long-term changes in brain function and structure related to this virus.
