Are you wondering what brain fog is? Brain fog is a brain disorder that can occur in older adults but also in younger people. Such as those who have fibromyalgia. It can be due to different causes. However, the specific reason why these episodes are triggered is not yet entirely apparent.
Researchers discovered that the origin of the problem might lie in different groups of cortical neurons. When brain fog arises, the brain does not have enough energy to continue thinking. It loses cognitive resources, and it is as if it shuts down. The sufferer goes blank. They cannot continue the conversation they were having. Nor is they able to know what they were going to do at that moment.
What Is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is a cognitive dysfunction, popularly known as mental fatigue, which can lead to a lack of mental clarity, concentration or even memory problems.
What is Covid-19 Brain Fog?
Does Covid cause brain fog? Brain fog and Covid were related. These are problems of disorientation, confusion, and difficulty concentrating that have affected about 30% of Covid patients. Considering the ones seriously ill and hospitalized with coronavirus.
Although the problem is not a diagnosis, specialists have described it as a picture of cognitive impairment after a Covid-19 infection. Where, for example, a person executes in 4 hours what they could do before in 2. That is due to lack of concentration and other factors.
Although, brain fog after the covid-19 vaccine is not proven yet. Another question that doesn’t have an answer yet is how long does Covid’s brain fog remains. Researchers are still looking for Covid brain fog treatment.
The cause of this phenomenon is still not clear, but several hypotheses prevail:
- Inflammation caused by the virus causes an encephalopathy affecting the central lobe, including cognitive functions.
- The sizeable cellular inflammation that the virus can cause alters the nervous system and the neurons.
- SARS-CoV-2 is believed to cause endothelial (blood vessel) and cardiovascular damage that can extend to the brain.
What Are The Causes Of Brain Fog?
Brain fog is not considered a disease or medical condition but a symptom that arises as a side effect, usually temporary, of some other medical condition.
Diet
Among brain fog causes, we can find a lousy diet. How to get rid of brain fog due to inadequate nutrition? Dietary adjustments can boost a person’s energy levels and sharpen their mind. Brain fog can be worsened by a diet that consists mostly of processed meals rich in harmful fats. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other fresh plant-based diets can help you think more clearly.
Foods containing a variety of vitamins A, B, C, and D and omega-3 oils may also benefit brain function.
To avoid dehydration, people should drink enough water. But caffeine and alcohol intake should be limited, as they can affect sleep and energy levels. Lousy nutrition will give you, as a result, some brain fog symptoms.
Stress
Stress collaborates with brain fog. When under stress, people tend to feel saturated. Many times, it causes people to go crazy or put things aside. When people are overwhelmed with problems, they “explode.” According to experts, stress is also included among the causes of brain fog. But don’t worry, there are many ways to relieve your stress in your time of need.
Lack of Sleep
Lack of sleep interferes with memory circuits, as do hot flashes. The intense heat arises suddenly, especially in the face, neck, and chest. It can also redden the skin and cause profuse sweating. In extreme cases, it can last until the age of 60 or 70. That can be a significant cause of brain fog.
Hormonal Changes
Menopause is not often mentioned, but mental fog can indicate that menopause is approaching. Hormonal changes experienced by women at this time can lead to this disorder. Specifically, it is the drop in estrogen production that affects the ability to concentrate and remember.
Medications
When finding brain fog symptoms, some brain fog medications can affect a person’s mental functioning. These were proven in some brain fog tests.
These include:
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Sleeping pills
- Brain fog anxiety medications
- Certain pain relievers
- Statins
- Corticosteroids
People frequently seek medical advice. Sometimes, when side effects occur, they come for precaution. If the medication cannot be changed, a physician can help the person develop strategies. These strategies will help in coping with mental confusion. There are also some natural remedies for brain fog.
Medical Conditions
Sedentary lifestyle: studies indicate that a lack of physical activity can decrease brain activity. Lack of physical activity is reflected in poor medical conditions. So people with medical problems are more prone to brain fog.
Treatment And Prevention
There are many possible causes of mental confusion, and treatment will depend on the cause.
A physician may work with the patient to develop a plan of care. This one can include medications, physical therapy, and self-care through diet and exercise.
Sometimes, doctors prescribe specific medications to help the brain, such as:
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
Donepezil, a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, can also help those with mental confusion from multiple sclerosis.
Mental confusion or mental fog can occur for several reasons. Including a medical condition, stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, or the use of some medications.
If brain fog symptoms are the result of a medical condition, they may improve with treatment. Suppose when you take your diet shakes, you should follow proper ways to make it cause if you don’t, your poor diet can harm your treatment for brain fog.
Tips for reducing the impact of memory include making lists and sticking to routines. Several strategies can help when it becomes difficult to think clearly.
- Avoid distractions: When possible, find a quiet place to focus on your tasks and take regular breaks to help you concentrate.
- Get support: Would you please explain your feelings to family and friends and ask them to speak more slowly? That will allow more time to process information.
- Practice organizational techniques: It may be helpful to keep a journal or make lists. Reminders on cell phones can help you remember things like completing tasks, taking your medications, or going to doctor’s appointments
- Always store items in the same place: Find a place in the home that you can remember to keep items that are easy to lose.
- Improve attention techniques: These technics might assist in making the situation more tolerable.
Other Causes Of Brain Fog
It is a new disease, and we are still learning its scope. For now, there are several hypotheses: some speak of small cerebral infarcts or stroke. Others say that it is post-traumatic stress due to having had the disease. Also, some say that the cause is hypoxia, that the oxygen did not reach the brain properly.
Metabolic changes are also a variant that is being studied. Others speak of the inflation that occurs in the brain. It is a result of the infection, and that damages some sectors. On the other hand, it is being studied whether it could be an autoimmune reaction. That when generating antibodies to attack the coronavirus, also attacks the brain.
Final Thoughts
Although brain fog is not a problem that affects only the elderly, there are also several reasons for its occurrence common among older adults—all of these you have already seen in the article. Luckily for you, now you know how to prevent it. Keep your life healthy, eat, sleep and follow all medical advice. You never know when you’ll become ill. Brain fog is preventable by maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
