Brain Fog: Potential Causes and Treatment

"Where did I leave my keys?" "Why did I come into this room?" "Why can’t I seem to keep my thoughts together?" If you’ve ever experienced any of these moments, you’re not alone. And though such mental lapses are sometimes jokingly called "senior moments," they don’t only happen in older adults. Anyone can experience a momentary lapse in cognition or mental capacity, and in some cases, a lingering sensation of fuzziness can develop. Anytime you experience such a sensation, particularly if it’s ongoing, is pervasive or worsens, it may be an indication that you’ve had an encounter with an amorphous symptom called brain fog. What Is Brain Fog? Brain fog is not a condition in itself, but "is very likely to be a sign or symptom of another issue," says Dr. Freda C. Lewis-Hall, chief patient officer at Pfizer and co-editor of the book "Psychiatric Illness in Women: Emerging Treatments and Research." People who experience brain fog often describe it as a sense of confusion or disorganization, disorientation or feeling scattered. A diminished ability to react and difficulty thinking, expressing your thoughts or thinking through complex situations or calculations can all be considered brain fog. Dr. Emily Huang, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California, says that "while the term ‘brain fog’ is not a phrase we use medically to define a specific condition, the term can be used to describe an experience associated with mental fatigue, memory issues and decreased focus throughout the day." Laura Boxley, director of clinical neuropsychology training in the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center , says that patients who are experiencing brain fog describe it as "not being as mentally sharp or having a slower processing speed, […]

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