![]() Researchers are finding that a more common cause of brain fog in Covid patients, as well as those who have been infected with other viruses like H.I.V. This can lead to a more permeable blood-brain barrier that allows harmful substances through to the brain and changes cognitive function, Dr. ![]() But some patients’ brains show dysregulation in their endothelial cells, which line blood vessels in the brain. Unlike with lupus and multiple sclerosis, direct damage to brain cells is much rarer in Covid-19. Someone with lupus or multiple sclerosis, for example, may experience cognitive impairment because of direct damage to their brain cells - but they also may not be getting enough sleep, could have extensive fatigue or be on medications that contribute to brain fog. Sometimes brain fog may be hard to diagnose because it is caused by several different factors, even for a patient who has one overarching condition. But because brain fog can present in so many different ways, and because it has so many different causes, the diagnostic tests have their limitations, she added. Joanna Hellmuth, a neurologist at the University of California, San Francisco. You may have some days that are worse than others, but brain fog tends to impair your cognitive function to the same extent each time.Ī variety of blood tests can also help point to some causes of cognitive impairment, such as sleep apnea, vitamin B deficiency or other hormone and thyroid issues, said Dr. The key difference is that brain fog does not get progressively worse the way mental abilities degenerate with dementia. Many clinicians prefer to use the term “cognitive impairment” to lend more medical legitimacy to what patients go through, and start the diagnostic process with cognitive exams used to measure executive function in severe illnesses like dementia, Dr. “When executive function is impaired, it will often impact several domains of cognitive ability,” Dr. Brain fog tends to affect executive function - a set of skills that are essential for planning, organizing information, following directions and multitasking, among other things. “And then there are other people who are just completely disabled by this.” How is it diagnosed?Īlthough brain fog sounds vague and temporary, like bad weather that will clear over time, research is beginning to show that it can affect some people for months and take over many aspects of life, compared to run-of-the-mill sluggishness or forgetfulness. “There are some people who are able to carry on with their jobs and their regular lives, but they may need to take more frequent breaks between tasks,” Dr. But if your symptoms persist over several weeks or make life agonizingly difficult, you should seek a medical evaluation. The cognitive issues may wax and wane - in Covid-related brain fog as well as other types, said Jacqueline Becker, a clinical neuropsychologist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. When should you see a doctor?īrain fog can be frustrating and worrisome no matter when or how you get it. Michelle Monje, a neurologist at Stanford University who has studied both chemotherapy- and coronavirus-related cognitive impairment. “It’s becoming a neurological health crisis,” said Dr. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of Covid patients have some brain fog that persists or develops during the three months after their initial infection, and more than 65 percent of those with long Covid report neurological symptoms too. In recent years, the term has also become closely associated with the cognitive impairment many people experience during or after a bout with Covid-19. Some people experience a form of brain fog after indulging in a big meal, during particularly stressful periods of life, or when undergoing big hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy or menopause.īrain fog can also be a symptom of illness it can occur with Lyme disease, lupus and multiple sclerosis, after cancer treatment or even during a particularly bad cold. Though it isn’t an official clinical diagnosis that would end up in a medical chart, brain fog can arise after several sleepless nights, while taking certain medications like antihistamines, or as a result of jet lag - among many other scenarios. If you’re feeling sluggish and forgetful, easily distracted or completely overwhelmed by mundane tasks, you may be experiencing a common phenomenon known as brain fog. What were you just saying? Did you need to pick up chicken and carrots on your way home, or was it just the chicken? Why is it suddenly so hard to pay attention to what you’re doing, and why does it feel like your brain is suddenly 30 years older than you are? The blank space in your mind, when it appears, can be confusing. Is this brain fog, and is there anything I can do to fix it? Q: I have a hard time remembering things and often feel exhausted, like I can’t clear my head at all.
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