Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a painless, simple test that detects abnormal electrical activity linked to seizures and may sometimes show where they originate in your brain. Common reasons it’s done include epilepsy, unusual sleep disorders, a traumatic brain injury, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Why is the EEG Test Done?
Weighing just 3 pounds and containing over 86 billion neurons, your brain works in amazing ways. Information in your brain passes as electrical signals through a vast network of neurons until it reaches its destination.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive, simple test that records the electrical activity in your brain. The test involves placing small electrodes on your scalp to record the function of different parts of your brain at the same time. EEG test in Kolhapur is mainly ordered to detect brain conditions, such as epilepsy. Let’s take a closer look at this brain test.
EEG: Why and When It’s Needed?
Your brain interprets the information your eyes, ears, hands, feet, and other body parts collect. For example, the objects you see, the sounds you hear, and the temperature or things you feel are all registered in the brain.
When the electrical signals are disrupted, information may not be transmitted effectively. If your doctor suspects a medical condition that can be linked to abnormal electrical activity in your brain, they may order an EEG test. Here’s why the test is needed.
Epilepsy
The most common reason you may be advised to take an EEG is a suspected case of epilepsy or other seizure disorders that cause sudden blackouts, convulsions, sudden loss of consciousness, unusual and uncontrollable movements, or staring spells. An EEG test in those with seizure disorders might show spikes or sharp waves.
You do not need to have an episode of seizure during the test to detect epilepsy. The abnormal brain activity shows up between seizures, helping your neurologist find where exactly the seizure starts in your brain.
Unusual Sleep Patterns
Your brain’s electrical activity changes constantly as you move through different stages of the sleep cycle. EEG measures your brain’s electrical signals during sleep to determine sleep-related disorders, night terrors, sleepwalking, and more. Sometimes, a neurologist recommends an EEG to rule out epilepsy, which can occur during sleep, but could be mistaken for sleep disorders.
To Detect Brain Function After a Brain Injury
An MRI or CT scan can be used to detect structural damage to the brain after an injury, but for a thorough evaluation, an EEG test at WIINS, a neurosurgery hospital in Kolhapur, may be necessary. It shows any abnormality in your brain’s electrical activity.
EEG is particularly conducted to detect signs of seizures after a traumatic brain injury, especially if symptoms aren’t obvious. It may also be needed if the patient experiences blackouts, loss of consciousness, or unusual behavior.
To Detect Alzheimer’s Disease
While not used routinely to detect dementia or other cognitive decline issues, EEG can help show how your brain is functioning. Sometimes, it may be done to rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms. Sometimes, in people with Alzheimer’s disease, the EEG report may show slowing electrical activity.
That said, the test alone can’t effectively detect early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. It’s often combined with cognitive assessments, MRI, PET scans, blood tests, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis, and in some cases, genetic tests.
