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Published on: 4/28/2025

What Is the Medical Definition of Brain Fog?

Brain fog is a way to describe feeling like your thoughts are slow or unclear. It means having trouble with concentration, memory, and clear thinking.

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Explanation

Brain fog is not a disease itself but a term doctors use when someone feels like they are having a hard time thinking clearly. People with brain fog might feel fuzzy, forgetful, or slow when trying to make decisions. They can have trouble focusing on a task or remembering things, which can affect school, work, or daily life. Research has shown that brain fog can occur in many different conditions. Some people report it after an illness like COVID-19 or with conditions that cause fatigue and stress on the body. It might feel like a cloud that makes everything seem a bit mixed up. Brain fog is mentioned in recent studies that work to better define what it means, showing that it can be common and may affect people in various ways. Sometimes, doctors look at brain fog as a sign that something else might be happening in the body. This helps them decide how to care for the person. Knowing about brain fog helps doctors and patients work together to find ways to feel better.

(References)

  • McWhirter L, Smyth H, Hoeritzauer I, Couturier A, Stone J, Carson AJ. What is brain fog? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2023 Apr;94(4):321-325. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329683. Epub 2022 Dec 6. PMID: 36600580.

  • Denno P, Zhao S, Husain M, Hampshire A. Defining brain fog across medical conditions. Trends Neurosci. 2025 Feb 17:S0166-2236(25)00017-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.01.003. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40011078.

  • McWhirter L. Brain fog. Pract Neurol. 2025 Mar 14;25(2):137-142. doi: 10.1136/pn-2024-004112. PMID: 39304293.

  • Aghajani Mir M. Brain Fog: a Narrative Review of the Most Common Mysterious Cognitive Disorder in COVID-19. Mol Neurobiol. 2024 Dec;61(12):9915-9926. doi: 10.1007/s12035-023-03715-y. Epub 2023 Oct 24. PMID: 37874482.

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