Brain fog in itself is not a mental health issue. However, it is very closely related to mental health as it can be both a symptom of common mental health conditions such as depression or stress, and a cause for others such as anxiety.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease where lesions on the central nervous system can affect motor function, emotions, cognition, or how clearly you think. People with MS sometimes refer to their brain fog experience as "cog fog" (short for "cognitive fog").
Although it's not a stand-alone medical condition, brain fog could be a symptom of several mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It can also result from temporary issues such as a lack of sleep. If you have brain fog, you may feel spaced out or unable to think clearly.
People usually recover from brain fog. You may get similar symptoms after other infections, a minor head injury or during the menopause. Brain fog is also common if you have depression, anxiety or stress.
Having brain fog or feeling like your memory is slipping when you're in your 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, or even in your 80s is common, but it's not normal. It can be a sign of impending doom. If you live to the age of 85, you have a nearly 50% chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.
The wake-promoting medication modafinil may also help treat cognitive symptoms by acting on noradrenaline and dopamine. A 2017 study found that taking 200 milligrams per day of modafinil improved working and episodic memory in people whose cognitive symptoms persisted after remission from depression.
However, antidepressant medications tend to not help with improving brain fog symptoms. Cognitive decline is one of the most common residual symptoms of depression and anxiety despite the use of antidepressants as treatment. Additionally, antidepressants can cause side effects like anxiety, insomnia, and weight gain.
Brain fog can be a symptom of a nutrient deficiency, sleep disorder, bacterial overgrowth from overconsumption of sugar, depression, or even a thyroid condition. Other common brain fog causes include eating too much and too often, inactivity, not getting enough sleep, chronic stress, and a poor diet.
Clouding of consciousness (also known as brain fog or mental fog) occurs when a person is slightly less wakeful or aware than normal.
What is brain fog? Brain fog is the term used to describe the effects on the brain and nervous system that can occur with long COVID. Brain fog can last for weeks, months or longer after a person recovers from COVID-19 illness. It can linger when other symptoms have stopped.
Another notable symptom of depression is brain fog, sometimes called pseudodementia and false dementia. Not everyone with a depressive disorder will experience brain fog, but some estimates suggest that people with major depression experience cognitive symptoms 85–94% of the time during depressive episodes.
Serotonin plays several roles in your body, including influencing learning, memory, happiness as well as regulating body temperature, sleep, sexual behavior and hunger. Lack of enough serotonin is thought to play a role in depression, anxiety, mania and other health conditions.
Diagnostic tests your healthcare provider may utilize include: Blood tests to understand possible brain fog causes (e.g., vitamin B12, COVID-19 antibody test, or thyroid stimulating hormone). Brain imaging tests, like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to evaluate for neurological conditions.
The cloudy thinking you get with brain fog is also very different from cognitive problems associated with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The key difference is that diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's disease affect more than memory. They change your ability to function in your daily life.
How long brain fog lasts can vary from person to person. A common duration is a range from several days to a few weeks. You can clear the fog sooner rather than later by making positive lifestyle changes and taking care of yourself, especially your brain.
Contact a Neurologist
If you or a loved one is suffering from brain fog, you can schedule an appointment for a medical evaluation with a neurologist at First Choice Neurology. We also offer a face-to-face chat with a board-certified neurologist at Neuro2Go.com.
However, people should see a doctor if: their brain fog regularly interferes with their ability to complete daily tasks. they have problems with daily functioning, for example, they forget to pay bills or get lost often. their memory seems to be getting steadily worse.
Everyone spaces out from time to time. While spacing out can simply be a sign that you are sleep deprived, stressed, or distracted, it can also be due to a transient ischemic attack, seizure, hypotension, hypoglycemia, migraine, transient global amnesia, fatigue, narcolepsy, or drug misuse.
Dehydration can be a contributing factor to brain fog, as it can lead to reduced blood flow to the brain and decreased cognitive function. Drinking enough water can help to keep the brain hydrated and improve cognitive performance.
How you get rid of brain fog will all depend on what's causing it and, unfortunately, it has many possible causes. Lowering your sleep debt and living in sync with your circadian rhythm will help boost your energy, mood, and cognitive function. Exercising, lowering stress, and eating a healthy diet can all help, too.
All of these symptoms can be related to mental health conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, or other conditions. These symptoms can be seen with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia as well.