Brain fog is not a medical term but used to describe a range of symptoms including:
Brain fog can feel similar to the effects of sleep deprivation or stress. It’s not the same as dementia and does not mean structural damage to the brain.
People usually recover from brain fog. You may get similar symptoms after other infections, a minor head injury or during the menopause. Brain fog is also common if you have depression, anxiety or stress.
While recovering from coronavirus (COVID-19), some people experience brain fog symptoms for a short time while others may experience brain fog for several months or longer. Speak to your GP if you’re worried about your symptoms.
Symptoms may vary and change over time. It’s not just people who were hospitalised with coronavirus who can develop brain fog. It’s a common part of long COVID.
Anxiety, low mood and fatigue all play a role in affecting how your brain functions.
There are some things you can do to help manage your symptoms.
Read about low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines and stopping smoking.
You can speak to your employer about what reasonable adjustments can be made to help you at work.
If you’re having memory problems, it can help to:
Conserving your energy can also help with brain fog.
Last updated:
09 February 2023