![]() ![]() Researchers like Arnsten and her colleagues are searching for ways to ameliorate brain fog. Vaccinated individuals were less likely to experience these lingering symptoms. An analysis of 70 long-COVID cases found that those who reported concentration and memory problems continued experiencing these symptoms a year after infection, "indicating long-lasting symptoms," according to a 2023 study published in the BMJ. "When a person is concerned about memory, it is always better to err on the side of caution and arrange a visit to the doctor," Brennan said.īrain-structure changes from chronic conditions like long COVID may heal themselves over time, but there's still not enough data about the disease to know how long that could take. What happens in our brains when we 'hear' our own thoughts?īut if a person's brain fog doesn't go away with quality sleep, then it's a good idea to get it checked out. What does it mean for a disease to be 'endemic'? In addition, lifestyle changes such as exercise, eating well and stimulating the mind with puzzles can help minimize some cognitive cloudiness, according to Brennan. If mental fuzziness is due to stress or lack of sleep, then something as simple as a good night's rest can alleviate it (though this is, of course, easier said than done). Identifying the underlying cause is key to addressing brain fog. "The human brain is pretty resilient," Brennan said. ![]() The good news is that, in most cases, brain fog is treatable. "We found that the infected participants showed a greater decline in their ability to perform complex tasks compared with non-infected participants," Gwenaëlle Douaud, first author of the study and a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences told Live Science in an email. This, in turn, can impact people's cognitive abilities. One of the most common symptoms reported by these patients is chronic brain fog.Ī 2022 study published in the journal Nature found that COVID-19 can cause abnormalities and up to 2% more rapid gray matter loss in certain regions of the brain, including the prefrontal cortex. People with long COVID can experience lingering symptoms weeks, months or even years after their initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. Even some medical treatments can induce brain fog - for example, certain blood pressure medications, sleep aids and chemotherapy.īut perhaps the most high-profile cause of brain fog currently is long COVID. High blood pressure, low blood sugar, head injuries and sleep deprivation can all produce the effect, as can the onset of menopause. Patients with depression or anxiety may be familiar with scattered, muddled feelings associated with brain fog. ![]() Inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis or lupus can induce chronic brain fog, as well as bacterial infections like Lyme disease. This region, which covers part of the frontal lobe, "is the most recently evolved part of our brains," Arnsten said, "and it has different neurotransmission than some of our older, more traditional circuits, like in sensory cortexes." These delicate neural circuits may be particularly sensitive to inflammation caused by infection or head trauma.īut brain fog can accompany a whole host of conditions. It could be caused by some mild structural or functional damage to an area of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in cognitive processes such as planning and decision making. Patients presenting with brain fog may have an underlying health condition. "I see brain fog as a sign that something is amiss," Sabina Brennan, a neuroscientist and author of the book " Beating Brain Fog" (Orion Publishing Group, 2021), told Live Science in an email. ![]() Just because brain fog lacks a strict clinical definition doesn't mean it isn't real. ![]()
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