Brain Fog - More than a Covid-19 Buzz Word
Written by Kristen Zeller
The term Brain fog has been tossed around in the news frequently since researchers have been looking into covid “long-haulers'' (individuals experiencing symptoms caused by Covid-19 long after their body has cleared the virus). But what is brain fog? We all have forgotten what we came into a room looking for or had difficulty concentrating. So, what's the big deal? Brain fog is much more than that; it encompasses many cognitive symptoms. Those with brain fog experience forgetfulness, difficulty thinking and focusing, feeling cloudy headed, as well as difficulties communicating such as not finding the right words (Ross et al., 2013). We’ve all had this to some degree, right? True, but for most of us it is short-lived and rare. However, true brain fog can be debilitating and is something that predated the Covid-19 outbreak. In fact, millions of individuals have been living with not only the debilitating symptoms of brain fog but also the symptoms of the conditions that cause it like Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
POTS is an autonomic nervous system condition, so things we never tend to think about such as heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure are all affected by this condition (Johns Hopkins Medicine.org., n.d.; Dysautonomia International., n.d.). POTS affects one to three million Americans, more commonly affects woman over men, and is considered a spectrum condition (GARD., n.d.; Dysautonomia International., n.d.). This means that some individuals can cope with mild symptoms with little impact to their quality of life and daily routines. For others, the symptoms can be debilitating. When you stand, a host of autonomic functions activate to ensure enough blood flows to the brain. Those functions return to normal levels quickly. For individuals with POTS, their heart rate spikes by a minimum of 30 beats per minute just going from a sitting to standing position. This occurs because the blood vessels cannot fight gravity, so blood is pulled downward. Individuals with POTS suffer with reduced blood flow to the brain and cerebral output from maintaining an upright position. Given these effects, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that brain fog is commonly listed as a detrimental symptom of POTS (Ross et al., 2013). Research on POTS shows that orthostatic stress from standing reduces blood flow to the brain, thereby reducing people’s performance on cognitive tasks.
So, what’s it like to live with brain fog and POTS? Imagine going to the grocery store in a daze attempting to collect what’s on your list. When you reach the check-out counter, you are tired and just want to leave. But there’s a long line. The longer you stand there waiting, the dizzier you get and the harder it becomes to think and stand. Finally, you reach the cashier and stumble over your own words in an attempt to answer simple questions like, “cash or credit?” On the extreme end, you stand up and your vision dims, your body feels limp and you black out - hopefully falling in the direction of something soft. Simple daily tasks that require you to be in an upright position become arduous. For a window into just how arduous the reality can be, visit Jessica Kellgren-Fozard’s videos linked below.
POTS is not the only syndrome that causes brain fog. Brain fog can be caused by a host of other conditions or medications (WebMD, 2019). Additionally, it is not uncommon for individuals to have multiple conditions with symptoms that overlap very closely with the symptoms of POTS (Dysautonomia International., n.d.). So, the next time you hear someone say they have been feeling really brain fogged, don’t brush it off. Remember that this could just be the tip of their iceberg.
Check out these videos and other educational links for more information.
Living with Brain Fog
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGDp7CsB3PQ&list=PLhADVL2AiGX-WGykGJgbOMsaasnF-jozn&index=4
Living with POTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1etxgERhkDg&list=PLhADVL2AiGX-WGykGJgbOMsaasnF-jozn&index=6
http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30
If you enjoyed this blog post, check out our other blog posts!
References
Dysautonomia International. (n.d.). Dysautonomia international: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Retrieved
February 15, 2021, from http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=30
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). (n.d.). Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Retrieved
February 14, 2021, from https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9597/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-
syndrome#:~:text=Statistics,-Listen&text=According%20to%20Dysautonomia%20International%2C%20POTS,than
%2035%20years%20of%20age.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.org. (n.d.). Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (pots). Retrieved February 14, 2021,
from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-
syndrome-pots
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, 23(6), 305–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-013-
0212-z
WebMD. (2019, September 17). Reasons you may have brain fog. Retrieved February 15, 2021, from
https://www.webmd.com/brain/ss/slideshow-brain-fog
WHO. (n.d.). WHO coronavirus disease (covid-19) dashboard. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://covid19.who.int/
Disclaimer
The blog posts are for informational and educational purposes only. The posts should not be considered as any type of advice (medical, mental health, legal, and/or religious advice). All blog posts have been researched, written, and edited by the undergraduate students and alumni of the Lifespan Cognition Lab. As a teaching and research-based lab, we encourage all lab members to help make knowledge more accessible to all communities through these posts.
