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Published on: 4/28/2025

Can ADHD Contribute to the Experience of Brain Fog?

Yes, ADHD can make you feel like you're in a fog because people with ADHD often have trouble keeping their focus, which can feel like a cloudy mind.

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Explanation

People with ADHD often have challenges staying focused and organized. This lack of focus is sometimes called mind wandering. Research shows that when a person’s mind drifts away from what they are doing, it can feel like a fog that makes it hard to think clearly. The studies indicate that changes in brain activity during these moments of mind wandering are related to the symptoms of ADHD. This means that the brain might work in a way that causes periods of confusion or difficulty concentrating, which are described as brain fog. When someone with ADHD experiences this, they might have trouble remembering details, keeping up with a conversation, or completing tasks because their brain keeps drifting away from the main focus. Better understanding these attentional challenges can be the first step in finding strategies that might clear the fog and improve everyday life. Remember, what you experience as brain fog in ADHD is part of how your brain processes information differently, and with proper support and treatment, managing these symptoms can become easier.

(References)

  • Bozhilova NS, Michelini G, Kuntsi J, Asherson P. Mind wandering perspective on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2018 Sep;92:464-476. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.010. Epub 2018 Jul 20. PMID: 30036553; PMCID: PMC6525148.

  • Bozhilova N, Cooper R, Kuntsi J, Asherson P, Michelini G. Electrophysiological correlates of spontaneous mind wandering in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Behav Brain Res. 2020 Aug 5;391:112632. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112632. Epub 2020 Apr 30. PMID: 32361038; PMCID: PMC7303944.

  • Sonuga-Barke EJS, Becker SP, Bölte S, Castellanos FX, Franke B, Newcorn JH, Nigg JT, Rohde LA, Simonoff E. Annual Research Review: Perspectives on progress in ADHD science - from characterization to cause. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023 Apr;64(4):506-532. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13696. Epub 2022 Oct 11. PMID: 36220605; PMCID: PMC10023337.

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