Sleep & energy
4 guidesPoor sleep, snoring and waking up tired.
What could be causing
your brain fog?
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Brain fog means trouble concentrating, remembering, finding words or thinking clearly. It describes symptoms, not a single condition.
When is your brain fog worst?
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- Take the quizAnswer up to 13 questions about your symptoms and health to see which causes are worth exploring.
- Browse all causes ↓Explore the causes by category.
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Guides based on your answers
Brain fog quiz
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Symptoms that can help explain your brain fog
1 of 4
When does thinking become difficult?
Notice whether it happens when you wake up, after meals, during stressful days or most of the time. Use the choices above to find relevant guides.
From the WBF guide · read it and its sources ↗
Explore the causes
Already have an idea of what is causing your brain fog?
Search for a condition or browse the groups below.
Metabolic & hormonal
11 guidesBlood sugar, thyroid problems and hormone changes.
Gut & nutrition
14 guidesFood reactions, digestive problems and low nutrient levels.
Mind & mood
5 guidesADHD, autism, depression and other mental health conditions.
Daily life & habits
4 guidesCaffeine, nicotine, diet and physical activity.
Immune & infection
7 guidesInfections, autoimmune conditions and symptoms that continue after an illness.
Circulation & connective tissue
3 guidesPOTS, EDS and fibromyalgia.
Brain & body
6 guidesHead injuries, migraines, neck problems and blood flow to the brain.
Neurological
5 guidesMS, anxiety, trauma and burnout.
Environment & exposures
5 guidesAir quality, mold, chemicals and medication side effects.
Women’s health
2 guidesEndometriosis and pregnancy.
Life changes & recovery
3 guidesRecovery after childbirth, surgery or cancer treatment.
Pain & fatigue
1 guidePersistent pain and its effects on thinking.
Organ systems
2 guidesKidney disease and multiple myeloma.
Articles
What does brain fog feel like?
Examples of trouble concentrating, remembering and finding words.
Read the article ↗
Brain fog after eating
Compare when symptoms start, what you ate and whether you also get bloating, itching or shakiness.
Read the article ↗
Brain Fog After Normal Tests: Prepare for Your Visit
Prepare your test results and examples of what has changed for your next appointment.
Read the article ↗Tests
Already have a test result?
Look up what your test measures and what the result means.
Open the lab interpreter ↗Things you can try today
Tools to try
PlayThree free memory gamesRecall words, find another way to say something, or try letters and squares. TryPractical changesChanges to sleep, meals, exercise and screen time. ObserveEight at-home self-checksMovement, balance, vision and thinking.
Guides to read
The story behind the science
Research on caffeine withdrawal
- 2004
Which symptoms follow caffeine withdrawal?
A review of 57 experimental and nine survey studies examined which withdrawal symptoms the evidence supports.
Read the review ↗PMID 15448977 - 2018
Why people respond differently
A later review examined why people process caffeine differently and experience different effects.
Read the review ↗PMID 29514871
From Brain Fog News
New brain fog research
- Menopause, brain aging and cognition
Forgot a basic word mid-meeting? 1,300 blood proteins differ by menopause stage.
Read the analysis ↗ - Hearing, tinnitus and cognition
Your “bad memory” might start with your ears
Read the analysis ↗ - Depression and cognition
Recurrent depression: lower scores in five thinking skills, no clear difference in most comparisons
Read the analysis ↗
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Saved in My Fog
- ArticleWhat does brain fog feel like?
- CauseSleep