NE Valley Times

• Research has found that inflammation, which comes with chronic sinusitis, can alter brain activity.
• This can cause symptoms such as difficulty concentrating and depression.
• In older patients, chronic sinusitis has been linked to dementia. 

A study conducted by University of Washington School of Medicine found that chronic sinusitis, which affects approximately 11% of American adults, causes inflammation that is linked to changes in brain activity. These changes can cause patients to experience depression and have difficulty concentrating.

Dr. Kristina Simonyan, a coauthor of the study, said examining brain scans of patients revealed that "subjective feelings of attention decline, difficulties (in focusing) or sleep disturbances that a person with sinus inflammation experiences might be associated with subtle changes in how brain regions controlling these functions communicate with one another. It is also possible that we might have detected the early markers of a cognitive decline where sinus inflammation acts as a predisposing trigger or predictive factor."

In addition to physical symptoms -- such as congestion, facial pain and headaches -- some studies have found a link between chronic sinusitis and neurodegeneration in older patients, according to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Researchers have found that the cognitive impairment caused by chronic sinusitis could perpetuate the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's is the leading cause of dementia, and it can cause progressive memory loss and personality changes.

Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus and Allergy Wellness Center said inflammation from chronic sinusitis can cause brain fog, to the extent that some patients fear they are developing dementia.

"We had an interesting case study: A gentleman who came to see us was having what his wife described as progressive, accelerated dementia," Gergits told NE Valley Times. "She was frustrated because the neurologist tried one medication, then multiple different medications. She really didn't see much of a change. The man also complained of chronic sinus troubles and nasal drainage. So we ended up seeing him and doing an examination. Sure enough, he was a candidate for balloon sinuplasty. After the procedure was completed, he recovered well. He was sleeping much better; his wife noticed. Then when he went back to see his neurology specialist, he did a test called the Mini Mental State Examination. And his score had improved significantly."

Gergits explained how chronic sinusitis can create what has become known as "brain fog."

"We do get some patients who are sent to us because the inflammation inside the sinus cavities is so close to the brain that inflammatory changes inside the nose can sometimes have a negative impact on mental capacity and memory," he said. "We call that brain trauma or brain fog. The brain fog might be a sign of nasal inflammation coming from the sinuses. It can be treated effectively in our office with a balloon sinuplasty."

A balloon sinuplasty procedure lasts 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities during that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center.

For more information about chronic sinusitis symptoms, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.