5 Sneaky Signs That You're Dealing With Brain Fog, According to Neuropsychologists

Symptoms that come and go are definitely red flags.

Sometimes your brain might feel foggy, a little bit sluggish, hazy and not entirely sharp. However, early into the pandemic, medical experts started throwing around a new term, "brain fog," a common complaint of those suffering from lingering COVID-19 symptoms.

“Brain fog” is a term used to describe a cluster of thinking and memory difficulties. It is not a diagnosis but refers to a constellation of symptoms,” explains Dr. Shehroo Pudumjee, PhD, neuropsychologist at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

Dr. Lindsay McAlpine, MD, Yale Medicine neurologist who directs the NeuroCOVID Clinic adds that it is specific to patients who have battled COVID-19. “It is most severe when patients first get over their COVID-19 illness and gradually improves over 6-12 months. We think it's a networking issue in the brain,” she says.

The most common symptoms of brain fog? Short-term memory deficits, difficulties with attention, concentration, multi-tasking and organizational skills. “In behavioral neurological terms, these symptoms could be referred to as executive functioning deficits,” says Dr. Arman Fesharaki, MD, Yale Medicine neuropsychologist who helped discover a possible treatment for brain fog through research at Yale School of Medicine.

How common is brain fog? Given that brain fog is not a diagnostic term, it is hard to get a number on how frequently it occurs, says Dr. Pudumjee. “Further, any prior estimates were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, since brain fog complaints have been found to be common after COVID-19 infection, thereby changing estimates of how common it is,” she says.

McAlpine explains that brain fog is “a sneaky condition,” as patients believe they have recovered from COVID-19 and return to work and home activities, but struggle to function as smoothly as before.

Related: 6 Habits To Reduce Long COVID Risk

5 Sneaky Signs of Brain Fog To Look Out For

If you suspect you might be struggling with brain fog, here are some of the lesser-known signs to look out for.

1. Cognitive difficulties

Dr. McAlpine explains that brain fog will leave patients feeling cognitively 'fuzzy' or ‘muddy’ and slow. “Often patients have difficulty finding words. The word will be right on the tip of their tongue, but they can’t find it. They will lose track of their thoughts in the middle of a sentence,” she says.

2. Difficulty concentrating

Brain fog can involve difficulty concentrating and completing tasks, says Dr. McAlpine. “For example, patients can’t follow a recipe to make a meal or baked goods,” she says.

3. Forgetfulness

Often patients suffering from brain fog will be forgetful. “They forget appointments and conversations with family or friends,” Dr. McAlpine says.

4. An overall cluster of symptoms that worsens

Sometimes the sneakiness of brain fog has more to do with how the symptoms pop up. Dr. Pudumjee explains that it isn’t uncommon for more than one of the previously mentioned symptoms to show up slowly and then start to occur more consistently.

5. An overall cluster of symptoms that come and go

Brain fog isn’t always consistent. “Brain fog can come and go or wax and wane,” says Dr. Pudumjee. So, how will you know if it is becoming an issue? “If brain fog is preventing you from completing your daily tasks, adhering to responsibilities, engaging in your regular activities, becomes highly distressing or persists beyond a few weeks, it is advisable to seek medical attention,” she says.

Related: What Are the Effects of Long COVID-19?

Behavioral or Lifestyle Changes That May Be Helpful for Brain Fog

Pudumjee offers a few tips on how to manage brain fog:

• Take regular breaks between or within activities.

• Get restful sleep on a regular basis—so do your best to get between seven and eight hours.

• Address stress, anxiety, mood concerns, or other emotional factors.

• Engage in regular exercise (you may choose to consult your physician to rule out any medical concerns related to exercise).

• Engage in regular recreational activities that challenge you cognitively.

• Avoid substances that may impact thinking and memory or increase the risk of experiencing cognitive concerns, such as alcohol or tobacco.

• Make sure that you follow a balanced diet that provides adequate nutrition.

• Use tools and strategies like alarms, notes, reminders, etc.

Next up: The 11 Best Foods for Your Brain

Sources

• Dr. Shehroo Pudumjee, PhD, neuropsychologist at Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

• Lindsay McAlpine, MD, Yale Medicine neurologist

• Arman Fesharaki, MD, Yale Medicine neuropsychologist