Brain fog is a common complaint in our modern world.  At The Renewal Point, we often see patients with brain fog as their major complaint.  While brain fog is not considered a medical condition, it is a term for a specific group of symptoms that can affect your ability to think.  An Integrative/Functional approach involves determining the patient’s exact root cause and addressing it with an individualized approach, based on an in-depth intake consultation and specialty lab results.

Brain fog is typically characterized by a constellation of several symptoms including:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty multitasking
  • Forgetfulness
  • Short-term and long-term memory loss
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Feeling spacy or confused
  • Difficulty finding words
  • Mental exhaustion

It is important to recognize that these symptoms can be attributed to many health conditions or may be a signal of a more serious underlying health condition.  Please discuss any concerns you have with your Integrative Healthcare Provider.

Possible Underlying Causes of Brain Fog

There are numerous root causes of brain fog.  Here are three of the most common reasons:

1.     Mold and Heavy Metal Toxicity

External toxicants such as mold or heavy metal can cause brain fog.  Some molds produce chemicals that can lead to brain fog.  Heavy metal toxicity, such as too much mercury, aluminum and/or lead, has long been linked to brain fog symptoms.

2.     Post-Viral Syndrome

Viruses can cause systemic inflammation.  Recently, we have found Epstein Barr virus acutely active in many patients.  There are many other varieties of viruses and parasites that can be included in this category, i.e. Lyme, West Nile Fever, Babesia, etc..

3.     Menopause and Perimenopause

Brain fog is a common complaint for women going through perimenopause and menopause.  Fluctuating hormone levels, particularly estrogen and progesterone shifts, not only affect energy levels but can cause symptoms such as forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog.

Functional Medical Labs to Find the Root Cause of Brain Fog

  • Toxin and toxicity testing would include mold and heavy metal testing.
  • Viral and parasite testing can often tease out a pesky biologic poison affecting the body.
  • Comprehensive hormone panels, done at appropriate timing in a patient’s menstrual cycle, many times reveal hormone imbalances. When these hormones are rebalanced, it usually helps immensely.

In Summary…

There are many potential causes of brain fog and uncovering what may be the root cause is key to support symptom relief.  Utilizing a Functional/Integrative Medicine approach, reducing toxins, balancing hormones and squelching dangerous biologic organisms can, in many cases, help to improve brain fog symptoms.  For more information about our services or to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at 941-926-4905.  We are here to help!