Describe what has changed
Brain fog can mean slower thinking, losing your train of thought, or changes in memory and mental stamina. Describe when the change began, how it affects daily life and whether it varies with sleep, work or physical activity.
Bring previous investigations and a current list of medicines and supplements. With your consent, observations from someone close to you can help describe the change.
Supporting sources: 1177 — Besvär med minnet · NHS — Memory loss (amnesia)
Possible explanations
Sleep problems, stress, depression and some medicines can affect concentration and memory. Depending on the symptoms, thyroid function, anaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency may need assessment. Similar difficulties can therefore have different explanations.
Brain fog also occurs in long COVID and ME/CFS. Mention any marked deterioration after physical or mental activity that starts later and takes a long time to recover from. This may affect assessment and advice about activity.
The symptom does not establish that nutrient deficiency, inflammation or a mitochondrial disorder is responsible. A biological explanation needs support from the overall assessment.
Supporting sources: 1177 — Besvär med minnet · NHS — Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) · NHS — Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency: symptoms · 1177 — Besvär efter covid-19 · NICE NG206 — ME/CFS: diagnosis and management
What does assessment involve?
A physician reviews the course of symptoms, their impact on daily life, previous conditions, sleep, mental health and medicines. Examination and targeted tests follow the clinical question. Cognitive assessment or investigation by another healthcare provider may be appropriate.
Seek medical care if memory problems are progressing or affect safety and independence. Suspected dementia or another neurological condition requires an established assessment in the appropriate care setting.
Supporting sources: 1177 — Besvär med minnet · NHS — Memory loss (amnesia)
Our private clinic in Stockholm
MediBalans is a private clinic where we work as a team across medical assessment, nutrition and lifestyle. An initial consultation helps us organise what has already been investigated, which questions remain and whether further care with us fits your situation.
Start with a free 45-minute consultation at the clinic or online. Any tests, follow-up visits and treatments are selected after assessment and priced separately.
When routine tests do not give a clear explanation
A normal result needs to be interpreted in light of what was actually investigated. If symptoms continue, the next question is which findings, symptom patterns or changes justify further assessment.
At MediBalans, we start with what is already known. Our team brings previous investigations together with medical assessment, nutrition and lifestyle. We prioritise targeted investigation, an individual plan and follow-up according to what could change the next step.
We investigate the drivers and follow what changes
The Global Constraint Rule (GCR) is our framework for prioritising possible drivers and forming working hypotheses. These are tested against the medical picture and followed over time. The framework describes our approach; it does not independently establish a diagnosis or cause.
Organix, CMA and genetic analyses answer different questions and are separate options. They are selected after individual assessment and agreement. An abnormal test result does not by itself show why you have brain fog or which treatment will help.
We agree what to follow, such as concentration, mental stamina and everyday function. If the plan is not helping, we need to reconsider the explanation and the next step.
Sources and further reading
- 1177 — Besvär med minnet
- NHS — Memory loss (amnesia)
- NHS — Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- NHS — Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency: symptoms
- 1177 — Besvär efter covid-19
- NICE NG206 — ME/CFS: diagnosis and management
This is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.
