Brain Fog: What It Is and Why It Happens

Amy Lian
12 minutes ago
3 min read

What is Brain Fog?:

Brain fog is actually not a medical diagnosis, it’s a well-known term that is used to describe a wide range of cognitive symptoms that affects the way that we think, focus, concentrate, or remember and pay attention. These symptoms can “cloud” your mind and make it difficult to perform day to day tasks. Oftentimes, individuals can have trouble with paying attention to instructions given or being able to hold a conversation. It’s a troubling yet common occurrence for many people and there may be underlying causes to watch out for.

Symptoms of Brain Fog:

Like mentioned before, brain fog is classified as a range of cognitive difficulties such as impaired concentration, memory issues, or mental fatigue. More specific symptoms of brain fog includes:

Word-Finding Difficulty: not being able to find the right words when speaking or writing.
Difficulty Learning New Things: not being able to understand new information given.
Forgetfulness: simple names or dates can be hard to recall.
Slowed Thinking: processing information at a slower speed than usual.
Fatigue: individuals may experience being tired due to their brain not working properly.

These are only some of the symptoms that people can go through when experiencing brain fog. It’s important to note that brain fog symptoms can range from mild to severe. They may also differ from person to person. Symptoms can always come and go, but they can be very frustrating. By being able to distinguish the underlying causes of brain fog, you’ll be able to get the right treatments and avoid these symptoms.

Why Does Brain Fog Happen?:

Brain fog can happen for a magnitude of reasons. It may be as simple as not getting a good night's rest or it can be more complicated, such as side effects of a medication that you’re taking for conditions such as arthritis.

There has actually been more awareness of brain fog after COVID, since it was one of the main symptoms. However, it can be caused by more health condition including:

Cancer.
Multiple Sclerosis.
Muscle and Joint Problems.
Diabetes.
Anemia.

Different health conditions can cause brain fog in many different ways. For example, when women go through menopause, hormonal changes are prone to happen. The change in the hormone level, such as oestrogen, can have a high chance of causing brain fog. Other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, can be the cause of brain fog due to the damage to the layer of myelin that protects the nerve cells. Brain fog and its causes are not exactly widely known. Till this day, researchers are still trying to get more information on brain fog and why it happens.

The Next Steps:

There isn’t a specific or available treatment for brain fog. Healthcare professionals may provide advice and tips to boost your immune system. These include:

Improving your sleep habits to get better rest.
Change your diet to eat more healthy and nutritious meals.
Getting at least thirty minutes of physical exercise each day.
Take short breaks throughout the day to avoid the risk of overworking your brain.
Participating in psychotherapy.

If these tips do not work and the brain fog symptoms do not improve, your healthcare provider may address specific symptoms with medications such as antidepressants or anti-inflammatory drugs. Your provider will also talk to you about any side effects to look out for while you’re taking a new medication.

Always let your healthcare provider know if brain fog symptoms are interfering with your personal day to day activities. Brain fog is common, and a healthcare provider may help you find out the underlying causes.

There is no specific timeframe for when brain fog lasts, but by following tips to boost your immune system, while also following your healthcare provider’s directions, the brain fog symptoms that you’re experiencing have a good chance of getting better or going away.

Sources:

professional, C. C. medical. (2024, December 19). Brain fog: Why your mind feels like it’s buffering. Cleveland Clinic.
Brain fog and when to worry. (n.d.-a). https://www.dmc-modesto.com/healthy-living/corporate-content/when-should-you-worry-about-brain-fog
Brain fog. healthdirect. (2024, March 6). https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/brain-fog
Understanding brain fog: Your questions answers. Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MI. (n.d.). https://www.henryford.com/blog/2024/03/understanding-brain-fog

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