Brain fog can arise with long-term COVID, but it can also be caused by medications, depression, sleep problems, and more.
While there’s no silver bullet cure for brain fog, there are steps you can take to alleviate it, from sleep to exercise. But first, you need to describe your symptoms to your doctor.
By Kevin Loria
Updated by Justin Krajeski
Brain fog, characterized by difficulty concentrating, slow thinking and memory lapses, is a common symptom of long-term COVID, the complex condition that sometimes arises after a case of COVID-19. But brain fog isn’t unique to long COVID. Chronic insomnia and other ongoing sleep problems, as well as head trauma, stroke, depression, cancer therapies, and drug side effects, can cause a similar, often worrying brain fog.
There is no perfect treatment for brain fog, but doctors can treat some of the conditions that cause it, says Dr. Zaldy Tan, director of the Bernard and Maxine Platzer Lynn Family Memory and Healthy Aging Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Angels. It is unlikely that you will be able to remove brain fog instantly. However, here’s what we know about brain fog, and what experts say you should do if you experience it.
understand brain fog
People who say they have brain fog describe it as “the feeling that they can’t do intellectually what they could do before … they don’t feel as sharp mentally,” says Dr. Steven Flanagan, chair of rehabilitation medicine at Grossman School of Medicine. from New York University. People may report trouble multitasking, articulating words or finding things around the house, Tan says.
Brain fog differs from the cognitive changes that can occur with age, say Flanagan and other experts. Although it is not uncommon for information retrieval to slow with age, for example taking longer to remember a name, what doctors consider brain fog tends to come on more abruptly and is often linked to a particular event, such as a head injury or COVID-19. But factors associated with aging could increase the risk of brain fog, such as taking multiple medications. And brain fog is different from dementia, which is a progressive condition.
The exact biological causes of brain fog are unclear, says Ramón Díaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD, director of the Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a member of the American Neurological Association. Damage to small blood vessels or neural connections in the brain could play a role, he says. And in many cases, stress or anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms. Many experts believe that lingering inflammation in the brain after COVID-19 or head trauma could also be the cause, Flanagan says.
What can you do to eliminate brain fog?
Diaz-Arrastia says possible solutions will depend on the exact nature of each person’s brain fog, and how it’s affecting their daily lives. Therefore, the first step should be to see a doctor and explain your symptoms. Your provider may refer you to a neuropsychologist for a formal cognitive evaluation. That could lead to therapy to identify cognitive strengths that can offset the decline. The following are other strategies that doctors may suggest to help alleviate brain fog.
Limit medications and alcohol. Dr. Tan says that one of the first things to do is reduce alcohol consumption and try to eliminate unnecessary medications, especially drugs that we know leave people confused. These include tranquilizers, as well as pills used to treat insomnia. However, he asks your doctor before stopping the medication.
Improve your sleeping habits. An episode of jet lag can cause short-lived brain fog, but people with chronic sleep problems can experience it on an ongoing basis. Practicing good sleep hygiene can help, Flanagan says. This means having a consistent bedtime, sleeping in a cool, dark room, and avoiding screens for an hour before going to bed. “It is important to get enough and, above all, regular sleep… to maintain healthy brain function,” says Díaz-Arrastia.
Do exercise. For those who are capable of aerobic exercise, there is good evidence that it can help clear brain fog. However, people with severe brain fog should work with a physical therapist. Trying to exercise alone can be risky in this case, Díaz-Arrastia says. The right dose of exercise is important, and too much can exacerbate symptoms of long-term COVID.
Reduce your cognitive load. Take steps to reduce stress on your memory, says Tan. Consider turning to lists instead of your memory, for example, and try to avoid multitasking until you feel better.
Take care of your mental health. People with depression can develop brain fog that affects memory and lasts for months or years, Tan says. Therapy or antidepressants can help alleviate the brain fog, as well as other symptoms.
Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the August 2022 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a fair, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2023, Consumer Reports, Inc.