History
Well, James Tunstall, who was a British Physician appears to be one of the first people to make reference to brain fog in 1850.
He explained it as a type of mental exhaustion experienced by writers, teachers, lawyers, students and other “brain workers” as a consequence of “overworking the mental facilities without sufficient bodily fatigue.”
In the 1960’s it was referred to as ‘ brain fag syndrome’ and you would be forgiven for thinking that this was related to smoking!
However, it was a term coined to describe “excessive academic stress” and it was added to the DSM-4, which is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
This term is still used in some countries, especially Nigeria, however, in more western countries it is known as “brain fog”.
Definition
The current definition for brain fog is still fairly vague.
The term brain fog tends to describe numerous symptoms rather than a specific condition.
It can affect a person’s levels of concentration, ability to communicate clearly , memory, confusion levels, mental tiredness and sleep. Generally it impacts on someone’s cognitive ability.
It can be a really debilitating and frustrating condition that can have a significant impact on an individuals confidence and self-esteem.
What Causes Brain Fog?
Unfortunately there can be numerous reasons for brain fog, with some more easily recognisable than others. These include:
Menopause
- Difficulties with memory can commence in peri-menopause and end in post-menopause. Unsurprisingly, there appears to be a link between estrogen and memory.
- This can have a significant impact on women, who are also potentially affected by hot flashes/ flushes, mood changes etc.
Pregnancy
- Similar to menopause, pregnancy brain fog is related to hormonal changes and can be referred to as ‘pregnancy brain’.
- Simple tasks are not longer as simple, especially when it comes to finding the car keys!!!
Diet
- Food allergies, food sensitivities, B12 deficiency to name a few can impact on you suffering from brain fog There appears to be an especially strong correlation between non-celiac gluten intolerance and brain fog.
Fibromyalgia
- The main symptoms of Fibromyalgia are pain, fatigue and brain fog.
- This is often referred to as ‘fibro fog’.
- Fibro fog, along with the other symptoms can come and go during flare ups or some people have them for prolonged periods of time which can be very debilitating.
- It is estimated that 80% of people who have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, suffer from fibro fog.
- Why people with Fibromyalgia suffer from fibro fog is not yet fully understood.
Long COVID
- There are millions of people around the world who suffer from Long COVID. These people are having symptoms that are lasting for months and years, rather than weeks.
- According to some estimates, between 2.3% and 10% of people who test positive for COVID, experience symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.
- There are an estimated 50 different symptoms associated with Long COVID with cognitive difficulties, being one of them.
- Some studies suggest that women with a history of respiratory conditions appear to be at a higher risk of brain fog when suffering from Long COVID.
- There have been a number of studies undertaken in this area and I would expect this to continue in the following years.
Stress
- Chronic or long-term stress can lead to brain fog. Our body’s main stress hormone is cortisol and it can be sometimes referred to as our alarm system.
- If our alarm is going off too much because we feel constantly stressed then it can lead to a number of health problems, including brain fog.
Lupus
This is a condition that affects the immune system. Thognitive issues for individuals with Lupus can also be referred to as ‘Lupus brain’.
- This is a condition that affects the immune system. The cognitive issues for individuals with Lupus can also be referred to as ‘Lupus brain’.
- It is considered by some that the cognitive issues could be linked to Cytokines, which are hormone-like substances that promote various activities in the body.
- However, for people with Lupus, their functions are altered. It is also inferred that blood-flow abnormalities in the brain could play a role. This may be particularly relevant for patients with antiphospholipid (‘sticky blood’) antibodies.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ ME
- Most individuals who suffer from CFS or ME describe having trouble thinking quickly, remembering things, and paying attention to details.
- Some will describe that they feel completely in a ‘fog’ Feedback from individuals who have either of these conditions suggest that these symptoms worsen while standing or sitting upright.
Effects of Medication
- Some side effects of medication can be mental confusion. This may be a short-term effect of the medication, however, in many instances in lasts the duration of the time you take the medication and in some occasions, it can takes months to recover following you stopping your medication.
- This may be an acceptable side effect for people depending on the reason for taking the medication i.e. chronic depression. Some of the types of medication to keep an eye on are:
- Anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines)
- Anti-seizure drugs
- Tricyclic anti-depressants
- Narcotic painkillers (opioids)
- Sleeping aids (nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics)
- Incontinence drugs (anticholinergics)
Effects of Cancer Treatments
- The cognitive difficulties associated with cancer treatments are often referred to as ‘chemo brain’. It can be caused by treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy, steroids or targeted therapies.
- In some instances, symptoms like tiredness, chronic pain or sleep difficulties can also contribute to the problem. Understandably, being diagnosed with cancer can evoke a range of emotions and feelings for example, shock, anger, sadness and stress.
- This in turn can also impact on an individual’s cognitive difficulties.
Multiple Sclerosis
- Obviously individuals who have MS have a wide range of symptoms. However, it is estimated that over fifty percent of individuals who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, suffer from cognitive difficulties.
- This can affect them in decision making, attention, concentration and understanding.
ADHD
- Some people who have been diagnosed with ADHD will state that they feel that a fog comes between them and their thoughts.
- They often feel that their mind is all over the place, which impacts on their concentration, decision making and general attention.
- A symptom of ADHD is often sleep disturbance which as we know can also impact on someones cognitive functioning.
PTSD/ CPTSD
- Post traumatic stress disorder and complex post traumatic stress disorder sufferers can be impacted by cognitive difficulties.
- If you suffer or have suffered from either of these conditions then you will be likely aware that your nervous system needs time to rest and reset.
- Unfortunately, these conditions make it really difficult for the nervous system to do this as there are more persistent levels of inflammation on the brain.
- Resulting in the feeling of fog around your thinking and brain functioning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, brain fog has been recognised medically since approximately the year 1850. However, it is not deemed as a medical condition in its own right.
Rather, it describes a set of symptoms.
It is associated with a wide range of medical conditions, as well as being a side effect of medications and diet.
Brain fog can last for a short period of time or it can be more long-term.
The symptoms can be really frustrating and debilitating for the individual sufferer, and their loved ones.
However, don’t despair, there are a range of treatments available for these symptoms and I will look at these in my next article. Check out my blog at brainfogwarrior.com
Thanks for reading.