Mental fog natural herbs and other healthy lifestyle tips and tricks right now: Supplements for a Healthy Brain – The L – Theanine amino acid increases serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels in the brain, improving relaxation and reducing stress. Phosphatidylserine, which is a major component of the cell membrane in the brain and thereby helps prevent the degeneration of brain nerve cells, helps to reduce stress and brain fatigue. Choline Bitartrate and Inositol are two types of B vitamins and are components of the cell membranes, brain membrane, muscles, and nerve cells. They are also precursors in the formation of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning, thus aiding in the prevention of memory loss. Vitamin B complex helps stimulate brain and nervous system functions and aids the digestive system in metabolizing and absorbing food, allowing the brain to benefit fully from the nutrients the body receives. Find extra information on Fog on the brain: Clearing the Haze.

Scientists hypothesize that these lingering viral reservoirs in the brain might cause persistent inflammation in the brain among long COVID patients as their immune systems continue to fight off the virus. Studies have found similar patterns of inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome, post orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and chemo fog. Brain fog and the leaky blood-brain barrier – More insight into brain fog came in a study published in Nature in February 2024. In the study, Colin Doherty, a neurologist at Trinity College Dublin Medical School, and his team scanned the brains of long COVID patients. In addition to systemic inflammation, they found that patients with brain fog had leaky blood-brain barriers, the highly selective membrane that protects the brain from toxins, viruses, and other harmful molecules.

Insulin resistance – an unfortunate condition that is characterized by the body’s reduced ability to utilize insulin. It develops gradually and can become quite a serious issue if not diagnosed and treated on time. Not only does it worsen one’s general health situation, but it also negatively impacts certain health conditions, such as elevated lipid levels, diabetes, and various heart problems. There are a few ways to measure your insulin resistance, and there are some that don’t require visiting a doctor’s office every time and going to the clinic for a blood test. We will discuss these in more detail to ensure you understand all the options offered for your safety and comfort.

Although research on ginkgo biloba has yielded mixed results, there’s some evidence that this herb may enhance cognitive function in people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment. Furthermore, a research review published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015 suggests that a ginkgo biloba extract called EGb761 may be especially helpful in slowing the decline in cognition among patients experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms in addition to cognitive impairment and dementia. A core feature of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms include depression and other non-cognitive disturbances.

If you’ve ever walked into a room and forgotten why you went in, or met someone new only to mentally misplace their name a moment later, you’ve experienced brain fog. Finding the right words in everyday conversation might be difficult, and sometimes your mind seems to go blank. Along with feeling forgetful or spacey, brain fog can lead to trouble focusing, mental fatigue, and distractedness. The brain may be small—only about three pounds—but it is the most complex and critically essential part of the body. That’s why it’s important not to ignore symptoms like memory loss, cloudiness, and confusion.

Stress – Most people don’t realize how much damage stress can do, and while eliminating stress would be a dream, it’s not realistic—and some level of stress is beneficial for the body. But when stress becomes chronic and isn’t managed, it can spell trouble for cognitive function. High stress levels lead to chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system and elevated stress hormones, affecting sleep, energy levels, cognitive function, and neurodegenerative disease risk. But why does this happen? Elevated stress hormones—cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine—ultimately divert energy and resources away from non-essential physiological functions to help your body fight. This is why the sympathetic nervous system is also called the “fight-or-flight” system. When resources aren’t going to your brain, your cognitive state suffers. See many more details on Fog on the brain: Clearing the Haze.