How many times have you said in the last few weeks how bad your memory has become? If you are like most people, it is becoming more and more an issue. Why? It’s not just about getting older. If that were the case, why are kids complaining of that too?
The causes of brain fog, poor memory and lack of concentration are exhaustive. First of all, we have to assess whether there is truly need for concern, or just a casual loss of memory. We all experience “brain freeze” when we just can’t remember a word or we walk into a room and can’t remember what we wanted in there. But if it starts occurring at an alarming rate, we need to rule out a potentially serious cause.
Let’s get the worst ones out of the way: tumor, Creutzfeldt Jacob Disease, encephalitis, ALD, HIV, neurosyphilis. Also of great concern would include lead poisoning, alcoholism, recreational drug use, blood disorders, Lyme disease, Epstein Barr virus, epilepsy, stroke, result of brain surgery, diabetes, liver cirrhosis and of course Alzheimer’s disease and senile dementia.
Now let’s look at other, more likely causes. I like to start with the most obvious, because, believe it or not, they are the most likely to get missed: sleep deprivation either because of lack of number of hours of sleep, poor quality of sleep or sleep apnea. Next is emotional upheaval: Anxiety, depression, feelings of overwhelm, stress and any negative emotion that is in excess. Often overlooked includes hormonal imbalance. This can manifest as PMS, menopause, andropause (male menopause), hypothyroidism, reduced adrenal function, and sugar related issues (diabetes or hypoglycemia). Medications, especially anti-depressants, painkillers, sleeping aids, anti-nausea medications, muscle relaxants, anti-spasmodics, diabetic meds, stomach meds, anti-histamines, heart medications, and cholesterol meds all can contribute to dull thinking.
And of course, nutritional deficiencies. I find nutritional deficiencies to be of primary concern. Iron deficiency anemia and a B-vitamin deficiency top the list, but only from a gross deficiency standpoint. Since vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fats are all necessary for proper brain chemistry, a deficiency in any of the essential brain nutrients can affect brain function – which includes foggy thinking, memory and the inability to concentrate.
No nutrition conversation is complete without touching on the adverse side of foods. Foods containing artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated fats, aluminum and other such concoctions can also impair clear thinking. Other toxins such as amalgam fillings and other sources of mercury, lead, silicone implants, fluoride toxicity, and other environmental toxins can contribute. Sugar, preservatives and certain additives can contribute to difficulty concentrating and foggy thinking, plus they rob other nutrients which could have helped.
There are many things you can do to improve memory and help with clear thinking. Ruling out the causative factor, or factors, is the first step you can take.
©2011 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
