The uptick in “brain fog” as a complaint among new (and many returning) patients at WholeHealth Chicago offices really began with the COVID pandemic. As the numbers were being collected, first nationally, then globally, that one out of five people who had experienced COVID also had “long COVID,” with “brain fog” as a major long COVID symptom, we were getting into serious stuff, manifesting as poor focus and concentration, memory problems and an overall lack of mental clarity. Many of these patients didn’t even remember having COVID, or just thought it was a cold, or didn’t bother with COVID testing, and now, their brains weren’t working ‘right.’
“There’s this disconnect between what I want to say and my ability to say it.”
“I couldn’t balance my checkbook if you paid me.”
But “brain fog” as a symptom has been with us long before COVID.
First, let’s start with the commonest causes of brain fog NOT linked to illness:
- Stress and worry (the very best book to deal with stress is Dale Carnegie’s “How to Stop Worrying” first published in 1948, now selling 18 million copies to worry-free readers.
- Poor sleep (this can include obstructive sleep apnea, so if your partner says you snore or even stop breathing while you sleep, have your doctor order a sleep study)
- Sex hormone changes (if your brain fog is worse during PMS week, you may benefit from the herbal tonic Vitex <chasteberry>; (if you are menopausal, you may benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy)
- Dietary issues (these are a FAR more common than people appreciate): You may have a vitamin deficiency (especially B-12 or D), a ‘hidden’ food or food additive (MSG, aspartame, etc.) sensitivity. You can set yourself on the path to normalizing your body’s vitamin and mineral levels, detoxify your liver and determine if you have hidden food sensitivities with a 10 day detoxification program called Clear Change with UltraClear Renew by Metagenics. You will need to eat strictly organic whole foods (no additives, preservatives, etc.) and carefully avoid the “big six” of food sensitivities (dairy, egg, corn, the gluten grains, citrus and soy). If your brain perks up after a detox, you’re on to something important.
- Medications. If you are taking virtually any prescription drug, run a quick Google check to see if your medication is associated with brain fog. Example: ‘statins brain fog’ Common culprits include birth control pills, blood pressure meds, statins for cholesterol, sleep meds, anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. Caution: Don’t discontinue anything without discussing with your doctor as there are usually alternative available. For example, Lipitor has more brain fog issues because it gets into the brain whereas Crestor does not.
- Overuse of alcohol or cannabis
The commonest causes of brain fog associated with illnesses:
- Any condition that causes chronic inflammation, chronic fatigue or changes in your levels of blood sugar. These can include: long COVID, any of the autoimmune diseases, allergies, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, and the frequently overlooked Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (“CIRS”) triggered by your body’s absorption of black mold toxins.
- Thyroid problems, either overactive (‘hyper’) or underactive (‘hypo’). Even a minimally underactive thyroid can interfere with brain function. Test yourself by measuring your basal body temperatures. If you’re fortunate, a small dose of thyroid hormone can work wonders for your brain.
- Anemia: which basically means you’re not bringing enough oxygen to your brain. Iron deficiency from loss of menstrual blood is by far the commonest cause of anemia, but Vitamin B12 deficiency is a close second. Like thyroid, sometimes simply correcting a low blood count works like magic.
- Undiagnosed or poorly treated diabetes is famously associated with brain fog. Your brain needs a steady supply of glucose to run efficiently. The moment it’s confronted with too much (hyperglycemia) or too little (hypoglycemia), it goes off kilter.
- “Mood disorders” which include depression, anxiety with or without panic attacks, obsessive thinking. Although counseling, diet, exercise and sunlight are all helpful for the mood disorders, sometimes a prescription antidepressant to regulate neurotransmitters is called for. Surveys of “patient satisfaction” have shown that antidepressants get very high marks from patients themselves. It’s not uncommon to hear “I can think again” when one of the mood disorders is successfully treated
- A frequently overlooked cause of brain fog especially in women is undiagnosed adult attention deficit disorder (ADD). This is because the ADD diagnosis was overlooked in school age girls. The boys were screened for ‘hyperactivity’; the girls sat quietly but were seriously unfocused and incorrectly treated for “anxiety.”. This was later named ‘inattentive ADD’ and for some women can gradually worsened with time. If it ever crossed your mind that ADD is a possibility, meet with an WholeHealth Chicago practitioner for screening and treatment.
Okay, if you think you have issues with brain fog, you now have plenty of resources. Get some simple blood tests, check your thyroid (including basal temperature testing), get screened for ADD, begin a detoxification with food sensitivity elimination testing, and, most important, work on issues of stress.
Supplements for “brain fog” are called “nootropics” from the Greek “to monitor the mind”
Currently we’re recommending:
- Memorall (Xymogen) twice a day
- Cognitex Elite (Life Extension) twice a day
- Brain and Memory Power Boost (Brain MD) twice a day
Call any of our WholeHealth Chicago offices to schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners to order appropriate testing and bring you back to being the smartest kid on the block.
Be well,