Is There a Specific Test to Diagnose Brain Fog?

Reviewed by Suo Lee, MD

Internal Medicine

There isn’t one single test that diagnoses brain fog; instead, various tools and scales help measure its symptoms and effects.

Explanation

Brain fog is a term many people use to describe feeling mentally unclear, forgetful, or tired. Researchers have created different tools to better understand these symptoms. For example, one group developed the Fatigue and Altered Cognition Scale (FACs), which helps to measure feelings of brain fog and fatigue. Another study looked at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to see if it could pick up cognitive difficulties in people after COVID-19. There is also a brain fog scale for conditions like celiac disease. Some studies even explore brain imaging, like nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, to see changes in brain metabolism. However, none of these tools are a single, specific test that “diagnoses” brain fog on their own. Instead, healthcare providers use these tools along with detailed questions about a person’s symptoms and history to better understand what might be causing the symptoms. This approach helps to guide the next steps in care or treatment, but it’s important to know that brain fog remains a challenging, subjective issue that doesn’t have one standalone diagnostic test.

(References)

Elliott TR, Hsiao YY, Randolph K, Urban RJ, Sheffield-Moore M, Pyles RB, Masel BE, Wexler T, Wright TJ. Efficient assessment of brain fog and fatigue: Development of the Fatigue and Altered Cognition Scale (FACs). PLoS One. 2023 Dec 11;18(12):e0295593. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295593. PMID: 38079429; PMCID: PMC10712873.
Lynch S, Ferrando SJ, Dornbush R, Shahar S, Smiley A, Klepacz L. Screening for brain fog: Is the montreal cognitive assessment an effective screening tool for neurocognitive complaints post-COVID-19? Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2022 Sep-Oct;78:80-86. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.07.013. Epub 2022 Jul 30. PMID: 35930974; PMCID: PMC9359801.
Knowles SR, Apputhurai P, Tye-Din JA. Development and validation of a brain fog scale for coeliac disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2024 May;59(10):1260-1270. doi: 10.1111/apt.17942. Epub 2024 Mar 6. PMID: 38445780.
Sklinda K, Górecki A, Dorobek M, Walecki J, Modrzyńska A, Mruk B. Ischaemic background of brain fog in long-haul COVID-19 - a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabonomic analysis. Preliminary results. Pol J Radiol. 2021 Dec 13;86:e654-e660. doi: 10.5114/pjr.2021.111100. PMID: 35059058; PMCID: PMC8757010.

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