Brain Fog: 6 Potential Causes

When your brain is fried, it’s harder to retain and recall all that information you’ve spent hours studying. If you can only manage a 15-minute walk on your lunch break, you’re still benefiting by giving your brain a break, improving your mental clarity and possibly even relieving some stress. With your FREE subscription, you get immediate access to our exclusive articles as well as product offers and opportunities that let you stay ahead of the curve. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care physician, who can help determine if further evaluation by a neurologist, endocrinologist, or mental health professional is necessary. They may recommend various diagnostic tests, such as blood work, hormone panels, or cognitive assessments, to get to the root of your mental muddiness. But what exactly is this phenomenon we colloquially refer to as “brain mush”?

• Moreover, thyroid issues such as hypothyroidism can be a cause of brain fog because they slow down metabolism, so indirectly affect cognitive function.
• Without thiamine treatment, Wernicke’s encephalopathy can escalate into the more severe Korsakoff’s psychosis, where memory loss becomes permanent and behavioral changes increase.
• For this reason, diabetes patients stand a higher risk of brain fog and related psychological hitches, such as depression and bipolar disorder.
• Amnesia is typically found in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

High stress levels

A combination of Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome is diagnosed in alcoholics suffering a long-term, vitamin B deficiency and alcohol-induced damage to their brain. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (wet brain syndrome) is a neurological condition that consists of two different syndromes. Likewise, one of the main causes of chemobrain is thought to be the stress involved in coping with the illness and treatment. When it comes to the menopause too, there could be indirect contributors to brain fog, such as the effects of poor sleep or the general stresses of navigating a challenging phase of life.

Solutions for Brain Fog: How to Regain Mental Clarity

You won’t find brain fog listed in a medical dictionary because it’s not a medical condition as such. Rather, the phrase describes a constellation of symptoms that give rise to sluggish cognition. When we’re stressed, our bodies release cortisol, which can interfere with cognitive function. It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube while riding a roller coaster – not exactly conducive to clear thinking. In today’s fast-paced world, brain melting has become increasingly common.

What is Brain Fog?

Unless the cause of the psychological hitch is identified and treated, brain fog and depression can evolve into a vicious cycle, which can be quite literally impossible to break out of. On top of that, a 2015 study conducted by a team of University of Michigan Medical School and Depression Center researchers has found that conditions such as bipolar disorder can lead to fuzzy thinking. Yes, digital overload is a significant contributor to mental exhaustion. Constant exposure to screens, excessive multitasking, and information bombardment can overwhelm cognitive processing, leading to a “brain is mush” feeling.

Regular physical activity is one of the most efficient deterrents to mind fog, as it sharpens mental faculties, promotes blood flow, and boosts the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Who’d have thought regular gym workouts can help you build peak shape fast, both figure- and brain-wise? If you’re not a huge fan of barbells, you can try outdoor sports such as cycling, running, or mountain climbing and dial up your cognitive functions equally efficiently. Apart from pregnancy, menopause is another period in a lady’s life when brain fog is all too real a risk.

Wet Brain Syndrome: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Even though the symptoms of the second stage of wet brain syndrome can’t be reversed, medical professionals may still administer additional thiamine through an IV or supplement. The additional thiamine may be able to stop the progression of wet brain syndrome. You won’t notice an improvement in your drug addiction symptoms, but you won’t notice a worsening of your symptoms.

Genetics, preexisting conditions, and other factors help determine whether an alcoholic eventually develops this mush brain disease. In most cases, symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome are preceded by symptoms of Wernicke encephalopathy. When an alcoholic suffers an acute lack of vitamin B1 mushed brain too rapidly, the onset of Wernicke encephalopathy may be severe enough to demand emergency medical attention.