Brain fog: Difference between revisions

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==Causes==
==Causes==
Brain fog is a common symptom of [[Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]], but can also be caused - or worsened by:
Brain fog is a common symptom of [[Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome]], but can also be caused - or worsened by:
*[[hypocalcemia]] - low levels of [[calcium]] in the blood, which also causes [[fatigue]] and many other symptoms<ref>https://books.google.com/books/about/CURRENT_Medical_Diagnosis_and_Treatment.html?id=fy2sDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA1169</ref>
*[[hypocalcemia]] - low levels of [[calcium]] in the blood, which also causes [[fatigue]] and many other symptoms<ref>{{Cite book|title=CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020|pages=915,1169|isbn=978-1-260-45529-8|edition=59|volume=|language=en|title-link=|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/CURRENT_Medical_Diagnosis_and_Treatment.html?id=fy2sDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA1169|access-date=|date=2019-09-09|publisher=McGraw Hill Professional|last=Papadakis|first=Maxine A.|author-link=|last2=McPhee|first2=Stephen J.|author-link2=|last3=Rabow|first3=Michael W.|author-link3=|last4=|first4=|author-link4=|last5=|first5=|author-link5=|last6=|first6=|author-link6=|last7=|first7=|author-link7=|last8=|first8=|author-link8=|last9=|first9=|author-link9=|veditors=|others=|doi=|oclc=|quote=|archive-url=|archive-date=|location=|editor-last=|editor-first=|editor1-link=|editor-last2=|editor-first2=}}</ref>
*seizures
*seizures
*brain fog is common in people with [[Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes]], as is ME/CFS
*brain fog may be used by people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to refer to the "inability to focus and maintain concentration" that common in people with [[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome|EDS]], although ME/CFS is also common in people with EDS<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sleep Disorders in Neurology: A Practical Approach|pages=4|isbn=978-1-118-77726-8|edition=|volume=|language=en|title-link=|url=https://books.google.com/books/about/Sleep_Disorders_in_Neurology.html?id=yH1gDwAAQBAJ|access-date=|date=2018-09-24|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|last=Overeem|first=Sebastiaan|author-link=|last2=Reading|first2=Paul|author-link2=|last3=|first3=|author-link3=|last4=|first4=|author-link4=|last5=|first5=|author-link5=|last6=|first6=|author-link6=|last7=|first7=|author-link7=|last8=|first8=|author-link8=|last9=|first9=|author-link9=|veditors=|others=|doi=|oclc=|quote=|archive-url=|archive-date=|location=|editor-last=|editor-first=|editor1-link=|editor-last2=|editor-first2=}}</ref>


==Presentation==
==Presentation==

Revision as of 22:22, September 20, 2020

Brain fog manifests as impaired working memory and concentration accompanied by difficulty processing complex information.[1]

It is a type of cognitive impairment experienced by ME/CFS patients. Fibromyalgia patients often refer to it as "fibro-fog".[2]

Causes[edit | edit source]

Brain fog is a common symptom of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but can also be caused - or worsened by:

  • hypocalcemia - low levels of calcium in the blood, which also causes fatigue and many other symptoms[3]
  • seizures
  • brain fog may be used by people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to refer to the "inability to focus and maintain concentration" that common in people with EDS, although ME/CFS is also common in people with EDS[4]

Presentation[edit | edit source]

Prevalence[edit | edit source]

  • Katrina Berne reports a prevalence of 75-100% for confusion and inability to think clearly.[5]

Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

Our case study confirmed the pattern of dysregulation in the cortex reviewed in the introduction. Furthermore, since both periods of phase shift/lock durations were found to be significantly shorter, that might contribute to an increased rate of phase reset, also seen in our data. Phase reset deregulation--phase locking periods being too brief and phase reset happening too often—appear to be consistent with the associated lower rate of information processing and reaction times found in the ME and CFS literature. These deregulated states represent the brain during nonoptimal functioning, rendering it inefficient for most types of information processing functioning, whether it is executive functioning, memory, perceptual reasoning or information processing speed. When phase lock is significantly less than normal, as in this data set, the ability of the brain to sustain commitment of resources to mediate different functions is severely compromised. Phase shift duration in this data is also hypoactive, meaning that significantly less neurons are being recruited to perform a function than normal. The results here indicate slowed verbal comprehension, executive functions, perceptual reasoning, processing speed and memory, the sum total of which is known as cognitive impairment.[7]

Figure 1: Results of LORETA current source density in a case with CFS showing widespread decreased current density for delta at 2 Hz and beta (12- 15 Hz) demonstrating a global reduction in brain functioning (blue). The higher frequencies (beta) have been shown to be a function of delta frequencies. In other words, local oscillations are under constant influence of global brain dynamics (Buzsaki, 2006).[7]


Possible causes[edit | edit source]

Potential treatments[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

According to the Marshall Pathogenesis, cognitive dysfunction is caused by microbes. More severe forms of cognitive dysfunction are seen in diseases such as Alzheimer's, diseases for which there is strong evidence of a bacterial etiology. Often associated with chronic fatigue syndrome,1) cognitive dysfunction is also seen in patients with multiple sclerosis,2) depression,3) fibromyalgia,4) and dozens of others diseases.[11]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Brain Fog in ME/CFS: What's Going On? - Solve ME/CFS Initiative". Solve ME/CFS Initiative. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  2. Dellwo, Adrienne (February 28, 2018). "What Is Fibro Fog and ME/CFS Brain Fog?". Verywell Health. Retrieved August 10, 2018. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. Papadakis, Maxine A.; McPhee, Stephen J.; Rabow, Michael W. (September 9, 2019). CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020 (59 ed.). McGraw Hill Professional. pp. 915, 1169. ISBN 978-1-260-45529-8.
  4. Overeem, Sebastiaan; Reading, Paul (September 24, 2018). Sleep Disorders in Neurology: A Practical Approach. John Wiley & Sons. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-118-77726-8.
  5. Berne, Katrina (December 1, 1995), Running on Empty: The Complete Guide to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS), 2nd ed., Hunter House, p. 59, ISBN 978-0897931915
  6. Ross, A. J.; Medow, M. S.; Rowe, P. C.; Stewart, J. M. (2013), "What is brain fog? An evaluation of the symptom in postural tachycardia syndrome.", Clinical Autonomic Research : Official Journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society, 23 (6): 305–311, doi:10.1007/s10286-013-0212-z
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 dr.marcie.zinn@gmail.com, Zinn ML, DePaul University, Center for Community Research, Chicago, IL, Tel/ Fax: (773) 325-4923; E-mail:; Zinn, Mark A.; Jason, Leonard (2016). "qEEG / LORETA in Assessment of Neurocognitive Impairment in a Patient with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case Report". www.sciforschenonline.org. SciForschen. doi:10.16966/2469-6714.110. ISSN 2469-6714. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  8. Wu, Yu-Lin; Huang, Chun-Jen; Fang, Su-Chen; Ko, Ling-Hsin; Tsai, Pei-Shan (June 1, 2018). "Cognitive Impairment in Fibromyalgia: A Meta-Analysis of Case–Control Studies". insights.ovid.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. M, Beth (February 7, 2016). "Case Study: "Brain Fog" in CFS can be seen in qEEG/Loreta - #MEAction". #MEAction. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  10. Pena, Amy (March 21, 2018). "Fibromyalgia Study Identifies Main Types of Patients' Cognitive Dysfunction". Fibromyalgia News Today. Retrieved August 28, 2018. Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Cognitive dysfunction (brain fog) (MPKB)". mpkb.org. Retrieved August 28, 2018.