Your doctor may also conduct allergy testing to check for allergies or a sleep study to rule out a sleep disorder. Based on the results, your doctor will determine whether to run further tests. Other diagnostic tools may include imaging tests to look inside the body, like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computerized tomography mush brain (CT) scans.

What to know about cognitive fatigue

Everyone feels fried from time to time, usually during a period of high stress. If you focus on one and exclude the other, both might end up suffering. Simply reading over the chapters or your notes may not help, especially if you tend to zone out while reading.

• If you are struggling to sleep, you will find a range of helpful guided mindfulness exercises in Session 9 of the Brain Food section or by downloading the Mindarma companion app.
• Remember, your mind and body are connected in a lot of ways, so make sure you stay on top of your physical health.
• Start by switching off distracting notifications, put away that second screen and allow your brain the luxury of focusing on just one thing.
• As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it’s crucial to prioritize our mental health and cognitive function.
• It may manifest in making frequent mistakes, difficulty staying focused, and taking longer to complete tasks.
• Korsakoff syndrome should not be confused with Alzheimer’s disease.
• It can happen when we have been working too hard, when we have been worrying too much or when we haven’t been getting the right nutrition or good enough sleep.

Can brain fog be prevented?

While occasional mental fog is normal, persistent cognitive issues could be a red flag for underlying health concerns. If your brain mush doesn’t clear up with lifestyle changes, it might be time to consult a healthcare professional. Feeling mentally drained happens to everyone from time to time, especially when experiencing sleeping difficulties. But brain fog is not the same as fatigue or lethargy, although they often go hand in hand or co-occur with symptoms of other conditions.

Possible Causes of Brain Fog

This often strange and deliberating symptom is hard to explain, especially when it’s impacting us. Brain fog feels like being slowed down unwillingly or being unable to clear your mind even though you really want to. Experts say some gradual decline in brain functioning is expected with age, so any mild memory loss symptoms must be considered in context with a person’s age. Korsakoff syndrome should not be confused with Alzheimer’s disease.

• Nine out of 10 alcoholics (mostly men between 45 and 65 years of age) will eventually develop Korsakoff syndrome, also called Korsakoff psychosis.
• Amnesia is typically found in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Additional tips include listening to music, practicing mindfulness exercises, and focusing on the positive as much as possible.
• The membrane is like a wall that surrounds the cell and gives it a good structure.

Always remember that every one of us is larger and more complex than the mischief of anxiety, fear, and shame may have us believe.

Interestingly, SSRIs also increase neuroplasticity, a fact that science has known for some time. But in a 2022 double-blind phase 2 randomized controlled trial comparing psilocybin to escitalopram, a traditional SSRI, Nutt found the latter didn’t spark the same magic. Taking time away from regular responsibilities can be incredibly healing.