Brain Fog: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

By 5 years, all other cognitive functions have returned to anormal level state. Unfortunately, as an exception to the brain’s generalrestorative abilities, people who develop wet brain don’t recover in thisway. If you drink, make sure you get adequate thiamine to prevent this irreversibledisease. In virtually all cases, no matter how severely alcohol-dulled you feel now, a few years of abstinence willalmost completely reverse this cognitive damage.

Get plenty of sleep

While in medical school, Sepideh Chegini recognized that her life’s mission is to care for both the body and mind, delivering patient-centered, holistic care. Dr. Chegini is dedicated, compassionate and determined to improve her patients’ quality of life. If seniors find their mental fog persists despite these steps, it may be time to consult with a medical professional. Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, offer a social support system and can be helpful in providing a sense of community.

Join The Mental Health Community You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Alcohol increases the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), for example. This causes sluggish movement, slurred speech, and slow reaction https://ecosoberhouse.com/ time when you are drunk. Alcohol also decreases the effects of glutamate, which regulates dopamine in your brain’s reward center.

• We highly recommend that you quit drinking to preserve your mental health.
• For resources related to AUD, including how to get support, please visit the NIH website.
• Quitting drinking can be a significant achievement, but seniors may face new challenges related to mental fog.
• Death and permanent brain damage are the worst-case scenarios of alcohol poisoning.

Seeking professional help:

Contact a healthcare provider if brain fog is interfering with your quality of life. They can help you find treatment options to reduce its impact on you. Consuming alcohol actually amplifies this effect, contributing to feelings of drowsiness and relaxation. Glutamate, on the other hand, typically stimulates increased brain activity and energy levels. It also helps control our cognitive abilities, such as learning and memory.

The Journey to Recovery: Life After Detox

Don’t push yourself to do too much when feeling foggy after a night of drinking. A few ibuprofen and a massive glass of water can cure your basic hangover symptoms, but alcohol withdrawal brain fog isn’t always so easy to shake. If you or someone you know is experiencing brain fog due to alcohol abuse, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Blood-sugar levels

• Experiencing brain fog from alcohol withdrawal is part of your recovery journey.
• Instead of removing the “unhealthy” foods you regularly eat, start by making nutritious additions to your meals and snack times.
• But this can also trigger an exaggerated immune system response in other areas of your body, like your brain, and lead to further inflammation.

But brain fog is not the same as fatigue or lethargy, although they often go hand in hand or co-occur with symptoms of other conditions. Brain fog can be hard to define since it is not a medical term or diagnosis. If you’re wondering how to get rid of alcohol-induced “brain fog,” it may be time to seek professional treatment.

The Link Between Alcohol and “Brain Fog”

• Brain fog is one of the many consequences caused by excessive alcohol and substance abuse.
• Becky Kuhn has been working with seniors since 2011 and is dedicated to providing quality medical care and improving the health of her patients.
• In addition to these therapies, medication and lifestyle changes can also be beneficial in addiction treatment.
• Chronic alcohol abuse can also lead to long-term memory problems and cognitive decline.
• While you’ll be back to your sharp self shortly, taking these steps to alleviate brain fog can reduce your symptoms and help you get back up to speed.
• It helps individuals recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that lead to alcohol misuse.

Sophia is a passionate health care leader with an expertise in senior care operations. She was at the helm of AltaMed’s ADHC and PACE growth and expansion for over 18 years. She believes in loving PACE participants and developing future leaders.

The Role of Alcohol Dependence in Brain Fog

Through studying functional MRIs, Berman and her team also determined that women had an increased response to emotional stimuli compared to control subjects. Men, on the other hand, had less activation to emotionally charged images, including images of alcoholic beverages. Berman recalls that one of her research subjects, who had been sober for over a decade, pressed the panic button when she saw a picture of alcohol during her MRI.

Recovery Support

Neuropsychologist Kamini Krishnan, PhD, explains why brain fog has become a popular term of the moment and why brain fog may happen as a symptom of other common conditions. For resources related to AUD, including how to get support, please visit the NIH website. We’ve also partnered with Moderation Management, a non-profit dedicated to reducing the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol. You’re unmotivated, it’s difficult to remember important information, and your mind is taking every opportunity to drift. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Sober Recovery’s « Terms of Use », « Privacy Policy », « Cookie Policy », and « Health Disclaimer ».