Brain Fog

Have you ever struggled to focus during conversations, walked into a room and forgotten why you were there, or felt like your mind was drifting through a haze? While occasional forgetfulness is common, persistent brain fog may be a sign that your brain needs attention. At Americas TMS Center in Irvine, California, Alejandra Suzuki, MD, FAPA, provides state-of-the-art preventive care to identify cognitive changes early. This can help preserve your brain’s health and reduce the risk of future decline. Schedule a consultation now by calling the Americas TMS Center office or booking online.

What is brain fog, and what causes it?

Brain fog isn’t a medical diagnosis, but it’s nevertheless familiar. You may have experienced:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory lapses
• Slower thinking
• Trouble finding the right words
• Mental fatigue
• Feeling less mentally sharp than usual

Brain fog can result from many factors, including:

• Chronic stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Poor sleep
• Hormonal changes
• Medication side effects
• Nutritional deficiencies

It has also become increasingly recognized as a common symptom of post-COVID syndrome. You may have lingering cognitive difficulties and brain fog for weeks or even months after recovering from COVID-19.

In some cases, persistent brain fog may signal mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition involving noticeable changes in memory or thinking that are greater than expected for normal aging but don’t significantly interfere with daily independence.

While not everyone with MCI develops dementia, it’s considered an important risk factor, making early evaluation and intervention especially valuable.

When should I talk to a specialist about brain fog?

Occasional forgetfulness is normal, but if your brain fog persists for several weeks, worsens over time, or begins interfering with your work, relationships, or everyday activities, it’s time to consult a specialist at Americas TMS Center.

You should also seek evaluation if you notice:

• Increasing memory problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks
• Confusion
• Personality changes
• Family members are concerned

A comprehensive cognitive assessment can help determine whether your symptoms are related to stress, a treatable medical condition, post-COVID cognitive changes, MCI, or another neurological or psychiatric disorder.

How is brain fog addressed?

Once the team knows what’s causing your brain fog, your practitioner may start with conservative approaches like:

• Optimizing sleep
• Managing stress
• Treating anxiety or depression
• Improving nutrition
• Increasing physical activity
• Addressing medical conditions that contribute to cognitive symptoms

Your treatment may also include:

• Comprehensive cognitive testing
• Psychotherapy
• Medication management when appropriate
• Innovative neuromodulation therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

TMS is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted brain regions involved in mood, attention, and executive functioning.

Growing research suggests that TMS may improve cognitive performance if you have post-COVID brain fog or MCI. Clinical studies have demonstrated improvements in attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive function after consistent TMS sessions.

If persistent brain fog is affecting your quality of life, call Americas TMS Center today to schedule an appointment or book online now