What does it feel like to have brain fog?
Brain fog’ is a term people use to describe problems with thinking and memory. It may include forgetting things, having difficulty concentrating or struggling to find the right word. Brain fog can have many causes, such as poor sleep, stress, menopause or long COVID. Brain fog, a state of mental confusion or lack of clarity, can stem from factors like stress, poor sleep or nutritional deficiencies. But when symptoms escalate to frequent memory lapses, disorientation or behaviors that begin to disrupt daily life, it might be time to consult a neurologist.Brain fog, characterized by difficulties with focus, memory, and decision making, is a cognitive symptom that can occur with depression. If depression is determined to be the cause of brain fog, treatment options include psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and antidepressant medications.In addition to these cognitive issues, brain fog can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue and headaches–not surprising considering how much energy our brains use daily! Brain fog is feeling lost, even though you know where you are. It’s like driving somewhere and suddenly forgetting how to get there.Brain fog is one symptom that has been underexplored in traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Is brain fog permanent?
Some people also describe it as mental fatigue. Depending on the severity of brain fog, it can interfere with your work, school, or other daily tasks. But it does not have to be a permanent fixture in your life. Brain fog can be an indication of underlying health conditions, for example, autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, or chronic health conditions such as fibromyalgia. It is also often associated with many medications and treatments including antidepressants and chemotherapy.Brain fog is a term often used to describe a state of mental fuzziness, where thoughts feel slow, focus is difficult, and memory seems unreliable.Brain fog, a state of mental confusion or lack of clarity, can stem from factors like stress, poor sleep or nutritional deficiencies. But when symptoms escalate to frequent memory lapses, disorientation or behaviors that begin to disrupt daily life, it might be time to consult a neurologist.Brain fog is associated with both central nervous system-related autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and autoimmune encephalitis (5), and non-central nervous system-associated disorders, including (3): Rheumatoid arthritis. Systemic lupus erythematosus.
What deficiency causes brain fog?
Vitamin B12 deficiency If you feel foggy and mentally sluggish, your brain may be low in oxygen. B12 deficiency can mimic iron deficiency brain fog and is common in those with poor digestion or diets low in animal products. It can usually be corrected with supplementation or infusions. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including: numbness.Vitamin B2 and vitamin B7 help the nervous system, vitamin B3 and vitamin B6 are required to support neurotransmitters and cellular communication, and vitamin B9 eases mental fatigue. Taking a regular B complex supplement that includes all the necessary B vitamins can help to reduce symptoms of brain fog.Vitamin B12 deficiency If you feel foggy and mentally sluggish, your brain may be low in oxygen. B12 deficiency can mimic iron deficiency brain fog and is common in those with poor digestion or diets low in animal products. It can usually be corrected with supplementation or infusions.Vitamin B12 is crucial for memory, so if you’re deficient in it you could experience forgetfulness. A vitamin D deficiency could also put you at risk for memory-impairing conditions like Alzheimers. It’s also important to make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.It’s fixable. The best thing about B12 deficiency? It’s one of the most treatable causes of memory loss, fatigue and brain fog – once you know what you’re dealing with. If you’re feeling more tired than usual, struggling to concentrate, or just not feeling like yourself, it’s worth speaking to your GP.
Is brain fog just anxiety?
While brain fog is pretty common, it’s not a condition on its own. But it can be a symptom of several issues — anxiety and stress among them. If your brain is a computer, ongoing anxiety and stress are those programs that run in the background and use up tons of memory and make everything else run slowly. Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) all have the capacity to cause “brain fog,” impairing memory and disrupting brain function, even in people who have not experienced other symptoms.Long-COVID patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms such as brain fog showed abnormal brain activity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while completing memory tests, with a shift from activity in brain areas normally used for memory to other brain regions, shows a study published yesterday in Neurology.
When to see a doctor for brain fog?
Brain fog, a state of mental confusion or lack of clarity, can stem from factors like stress, poor sleep or nutritional deficiencies. But when symptoms escalate to frequent memory lapses, disorientation or behaviors that begin to disrupt daily life, it might be time to consult a neurologist. Poor thinking ability and memory problems are a very common symptom of depression. For many people, treating their depression clears up symptoms of brain fog and cloudy thinking. For this reason, everyone with these symptoms, even people in their seventies and beyond, should be screened for depression.