
Polypharmacy, which is becoming increasingly common in the current healthcare system, increases the risk of harmful side effects, including decreased mentation, and this tends to worsen as you age. Sedatives, sleep medications, pain medications, antihistamines, bladder control medications, and others often come with the side effect of dizziness or sleepiness. Many prescription medications can cause decreased cognition. There are numerous possible root causes of brain fog. Below are some of the more common reasons. Please discuss any concerns you have with your functional medicine or healthcare provider. It is important to recognize that these symptoms can be attributed to many health conditions or may separately be a signal of a more serious underlying health condition. While there are no formal medical diagnostic criteria for brain fog, it is typically characterized by a constellation of several symptoms, including: A functional medicine approach to brain fog involves determining the patient's exact root cause and addressing it with an individualized approach based on an in-depth intake questionnaire and specialty lab results. "Brain fog" isn't a medical condition but is a term used for specific symptoms that can affect your ability to think. DOI: 10.1111/ane.Brain fog is a common complaint in our modern world.

Neurological manifestations of COVID-19: A systematic review and current update. A clinical primer for the expected and potential post-COVID-19 syndromes. Understanding the long-term health effects of COVID-19.Inflammatory leptomeningeal cytokines mediate COVID-19 neurologic symptoms in cancer patients. Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in COVID-19. news/msk-researchers-learn-what-s-driving-brain-fog-people-covid-19 MSK researchers learn what’s driving ‘Brain fog’ in people with COVID-19.journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2764549 Neurologic manifestations of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. Post-discharge persistent symptoms and health-related quality of life after hospitalization for COVID-19. cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Some possible contributing factors include: However, there are other ways that COVID-19 may indirectly lead to brain fog as well.

Other factors that may contribute to brain fogĪs mentioned above, inflammation in and around your brain may contribute to brain fog. They believe that these changes may also contribute to cognitive impairments. Researchers have also identified microstructural changes in the hippocampus and other areas of the brain after COVID-19. This may be one of the factors that contributes to brain fog. Inflammation in your brain hinders the ability of your neurons to communicate with each other. Cytokines are molecules produced by your immune system that encourage inflammation. Encephalopathy is a general term that refers to damage or disease of your brain.Ī study from January 2021 found increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in the fluid surrounding the brains of people weeks after their COVID-19 infection. Numerous case studies have found that some people who’ve had COVID-19 develop complications such as altered consciousness or encephalopathy. The virus is neuro-invasive, meaning that it can enter your brain tissue. Once in your system, the coronavirus enters cells through an enzyme called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Respiratory droplets from that person can enter your body through your nose, mouth, or eyes. The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2, is thought to typically spread through close contact with someone who has the infection.


It’s thought that both physiological and psychological factors may play a role. Researchers are still investigating the potential cause of brain fog in people who’ve had COVID-19.
