Brain fog is a lay term used to describe a range of cognitive difficulties, such as impaired memory, lack of mental clarity, and difficulty concentrating¹². It is not a medical condition in itself but rather a symptom associated with various underlying causes, including lack of sleep, poor nutrition, medications, and medical conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and long COVID³⁴.

The term has gained prominence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many long COVID patients report cognitive issues referred to as brain fog³. It is often linked to chronic low-level inflammation and neuroinflammation, but the precise pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear¹.

Symptoms of brain fog can include:

• Memory difficulties.
• Trouble finding and generating words.
• Problems with attention and simple tasks.
• Slower processing speed.
• Confusion or feeling mentally hazy⁴⁵.

It's important to address any cognitive symptoms with healthcare providers to rule out underlying conditions and explore possible treatments³.

Footnotes

1. Karan Kverno, "Brain Fog: A Bit of Clarity Regarding Etiology, Prognosis, and Treatment," PubMed, 2021. ↩ ↩²

2. Laura McWhirter, "What is brain fog?" PubMed, 2022. ↩

3. DeeDee Stiepan, "Mayo Clinic Minute: Dealing with ‘brain fog’ from long COVID-19," Mayo Clinic News Network, 2022. ↩ ↩² ↩³

4. Anthony J. Ocon, "Caught in the thickness of brain fog: exploring the cognitive symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," NCBI, 2013. ↩ ↩²

5. UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, "Understanding and Managing Brain Fog," 2024. ↩