Brain fog isn’t just forgetfulness: What causes it? Is it linked to dementia? When should you worry?
Can’t focus, struggling to find the right word, or feeling like your brain is moving in slow motion? Experts explain what could be behind brain fog – including lack of sleep, stress, menopause and even dengue – whether it’s linked to dementia, and what you can do to think more clearly.
Brain fog, often described as a lack of focus or difficulty thinking clearly, is not just a feeling of forgetfulness. It's a cluster of symptoms that can include fatigue, lack of motivation, confusion, and even emotional changes. While it's commonly associated with stress, lack of sleep, or menopause, experts say there are other potential causes too. These can range from viral infections like dengue or COVID-19, to conditions such as long COVID-19.
Dr Jillian Teo, a senior psychologist, explains that brain fog is often linked to the prefrontal cortex and frontoparietal network in the brain. These regions help with attention, information processing, prioritizing, and suppressing distractions. When the brain is sleep-deprived, fatigued, or unwell, the efficiency of these systems can decrease, leading to slower access to information.
While there's no single neurotransmitter or region of the brain responsible for brain fog, Dr Huang Wan Ping, a senior principal psychologist, suggests that it's more about the brain temporarily becoming less efficient at allocating cognitive resources.
The severity and duration of brain fog varies greatly from person to person, depending on the cause. For instance, sleep-related brain fog might improve with rest, while stress-related symptoms might fluctuate over time. In some cases, such as with long COVID-19, the symptoms can persist for months.
Research has also suggested a link between brain fog and certain viral infections. A study from NTU found that dengue patients had a 213 percent increased risk of cognitive or memory disorders. Similarly, a study at Singapore General Hospital found that nearly all patients with acute viral infections experienced symptoms like fatigue, impaired concentration, or memory difficulties within the first week of their illness. These neurological symptoms can have a long-term impact on daily activities and quality of life.
While there's no specific food to prevent or cure brain fog, maintaining a balanced diet rich in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and minimally processed foods can help reduce neuroinflammation and support the gut-brain axis.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
