S ometimes, we find it hard to concentrate. If you feel like this, forget common words, or think more slowly than usual, the chances are you know what brain fog feels like and, surprisingly, its not just a sign of getting older. Brain fog can descend after periods of stress or inactivity, changing hormone levels, conditions such as hyperthyroidism and anaemia, and even viral infections. Indeed, around 70 per cent of people with long Covid experience symptoms of brain fog, according to research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. The brain drain So, what exactly is brain fog? There are three elements to brain health, explains Professor James Goodwin, director of science and research impact at the Brain Health Network (www.brain.health), thinking skills, emotional regulation and social cognition. In brain fog, all three are challenged, leaving us with a range of unwanted symptoms, including: problems with high-order executive functioning (planning, decision-making, reasoning, working memory and communication); emotional regulation, which can lead to depression and anxiety; and a reduced capacity for social interaction, Goodwin adds. If you experience any of these, its not uncommon to feel lazy or guilty about not functioning at your best, but there are sound physiological reasons for whats happening to you. Brain fog is almost exclusively explained by physiological causes, particularly inflammation, says Goodwin. Inflammation is a natural, temporary response of the immune system to mitigate injury, but, as we get older, theres an increased risk of the inflammatory process not dissipating with time. When this happens, and inflammation reaches your brain, the impact is significant. First, your brain doesnt work as efficiently. Take your synapses, for example, those tiny gaps between nerve endings that are key to the transmission of nerve impulses. Underlying health conditions, viral infections or even 14 versusarthritis.org PP13-15_Inspire_Summer 2023_Brain fog.indd 14 17/05/2023 12:13