Brain fog isn’t officially a medical condition, but its presence indicates that another issue exists. Brain fog is a kind of cognitive dysfunction, resulting in a loss of mental clarity, poor concentration, lack of focus, and memory lapses. Many patients describe the feeling as “mental fatigue.” 

Brain fog can make work or school difficult – and daily life challenging and exhausting. The good news is, brain fog can be dealt with and overcome. 

Why Does Brain Fog Occur? 

There are several causes of brain fog. Once the underlying cause is identified, a health practitioner can determine the specific resolution.

Here are six possible explanations for brain fog: 

  1. Lack of Sleep:  Poor sleep habits and insomnia can disrupt your ability to think clearly and cause brain fog. Symptoms may also include poor concentration and focus. Adults should strive for between 8 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
  2. Stress and Anxiety: Chronic stress can result in compromised immunity, raise your blood pressure and even trigger depression. Mental fatigue is a common side effect as well. 
  3. Hormonal Issues: Changes to your hormonal levels can also result in brain fog. For instance, progesterone and estrogen are hormones that both increase during pregnancy. These changes can cause short-term memory issues cognitive impairment – often referred to as “Mom brain.” In the same way, lower estrogen levels in menopause can result in forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and foggy thinking.
  4. Medications: Many patients experience brain fog when taking certain prescription medications. If you notice these symptoms, be sure to speak with your physician to determine if brain fog is a known side effect. If so, you may be able to lower your dosage or try another similar medication.
  5. Diet and Nutrition: Our diet can significantly affect how our brain works. Vitamin B-12 is necessary for healthy brain function, and a vitamin B-12 deficiency can result in brain fog. Many people take B-12 supplements – or can take in B-12 by eating tuna, salmon, or animal organ meat. Read More: B-12 rich foods. Conversely, brain fog can also occur if you are allergic to certain foods, such as aspartame, peanuts, or dairy. 
  6. Medical conditions: Inflammation, fatigue, or shifts in blood glucose levels can also cause mental fatigue. People who live with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome may experience brain fog, as do those with anemia, depression, migraines, thyroid disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Those experiencing autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis often exhibit signs of brain fog. 
  7. Environmental toxins: Such as mold, heavy chemicals, and heavy metals.
  8. Dehydration: Here in hot and sunny Florida, we can become dehydrated rapidly. Dehydration is a common cause of brain fog.

Blood work can help your medical practitioner identify the cause of brain fog. A blood test can determine abnormal glucose levels, poor liver, kidney, and thyroid function, nutritional deficiencies, inflammatory diseases, and infections. 

Brain fog treatment depends on the cause. While some cases may need medical intervention in the form of prescriptions, other patients may simply need to correct a nutritional deficiency or improve their quality of sleep. 

Brain fog can be frustrating and can affect the quality of your life – but you don’t have to live with the memory lapses and forgetfulness. At Longevity Wellness Clinic, we take a holistic approach to health and look forward to helping you achieve your wellness goals.