Brain Fog

What is brain fog?

“Brain fog” is a term for a range of symptoms that cause cognitive impairment. This affects your ability to think clearly, focus, concentrate, remember and pay attention. Like its name, these symptoms cloud your mind and make it difficult to perform routine tasks like holding a conversation, listening to instructions or remembering the steps of something you’re doing.

Brain fog, also called mental fog, can happen after an illness, as a side effect of a medication (like chemotherapy) or as a symptom of an underlying condition. A healthcare provider can help you determine what’s causing brain fog to help you feel more like yourself.

What does brain fog feel like?

Brain fog can feel slightly different for each person. You may experience the following with brain fog:

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing.
• Confusion.
• Fatigue.
• Forgetfulness.
• Losing your train of thought.
• Mental exhaustion.
• Not having the right words.
• Slow thought process and reaction time.
• Trouble paying attention.

What causes brain fog?

There are multiple possible causes of brain fog. Some common causes include:

• A lack of sleep.
• Autoimmune conditions like lupus, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.
• Diabetes and low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).
• Mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.
• Neurodivergent conditions like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.
• Hormonal changes like during pregnancy or menopause.
• Poor nutrition.
• Stress.

In addition, you may develop brain fog after:

• A COVID-19 infection (long COVID).
• Chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
• Long hospital stays.

Some research shows that your immune system could cause inflammation in your brain (neuroinflammation) that temporarily blocks or makes it more difficult for your body to process information.

Regarding brain fog and COVID-19, new research shows that brain fog is a result of the virus living in your gut after infection symptoms resolve. It changes your gut’s microbiome. This can reduce how much serotonin (a chemical messenger) your body produces, which can impact cognitive function and lead to symptoms of brain fog.

How do I get rid of brain fog?

There isn’t a specific treatment available for brain fog. A healthcare provider might first recommend tips to boost your immune system like:

• Improving your sleep habits to get a better night’s rest.
• Eating healthy and nutritious meals.
• Getting 30 minutes of physical activity in each day.
• Writing down important information so you don’t forget it.
• Taking short breaks (about 30 minutes each) throughout the day to reduce overworking your brain.
• Participating in psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy.

If these tips don’t resolve brain fog, a healthcare provider may address specific symptoms with medications like antidepressants or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), among others. Your provider will also discuss any side effects to look out for while you’re taking a new medication.

How long does brain fog last?

There isn’t a specific timeframe as to how long you’ll experience brain fog. You might feel it for a few days to weeks. But it could last for months to years in some cases. Contact a healthcare provider if brain fog is interfering with your quality of life. They can help you find treatment options to reduce its impact on you.

Can brain fog be prevented?

You can’t completely prevent brain fog from happening. But you can take steps to improve your mental and physical health to reduce your risk of symptoms becoming bothersome.

As brain fog is common after COVID-19 infections, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is beneficial to reduce your risk.

When should brain fog be treated by a healthcare provider?

Let a healthcare provider know if you experience brain fog, especially if it’s disruptive to your daily activities and routine. You might want to talk to a provider if you frequently forget about appointments, have trouble completing ordinary tasks or find it difficult to pay attention when someone’s talking to you. Brain fog is common, and a provider can help you find out what’s causing your symptoms.