What Is Brain Fog? Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Risks for the baby can include brain damage and developmental, cognitive, and behavioral issues. No amount of alcohol is safe to drink while pregnant, according to the CDC. Alcohol-related neurologic disease refers to a range of conditions caused by alcohol intake that affect the nerves and nervous system.

• Making lifestyle changes such as getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly can help reduce the severity of brain fog and speed up recovery time.
• It may take several months of complete abstinence from alcohol to give your brain time to heal.
• Brain fog after drinking usually lessens within 8 to 24 hours.3 However, the timeframe can be longer for people who experience cognitive impairment as a result of alcohol use disorder.
• If you or someone you know shows signs of delirium tremens, go to the emergency room immediately.
• This decrease in brain activity not only affects us while we’re drinking, but it can result in brain fog the next day.

Addiction Treatment

Brain fog from alcohol — also known as hangover brain fog — usually lessens within 8 to 24 hours after drinking. However, the time frame can be longer for people who are regularly consuming heavy amounts of alcohol. In fact, brain fog related to alcohol use can also be a symptom of withdrawal for those who have developed alcohol dependence. In such cases, the brain has become accustomed to the presence of alcohol and may struggle to function normally without it, leading to feelings of confusion or disorientation.

• However, those who do may find these symptoms significantly impacting their daily lives.
• I still go to physiotherapy now, but only I know what’s happened to me.”
• A study published in 2021 found that heavy drinking may lead to loss of brain volume.
• For most people, alcohol withdrawal symptoms will begin to subside after 72 hours.

Alcohol Withdrawal and Brain Fog

This includes the nerves that send signals to the muscles and organs. The alcohol will continue to circulate in the bloodstream and eventually affect other organs. Up to 46 percent of people with alcohol-related myopathy showed noticeable reductions in strength compared with people without the condition. It usually develops as symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy go away. Research shows people who have a supportive social network are more likely to remain alcohol-free after withdrawal.

Lifestyle Changes and Treatment for Brain Fog

Factors that can help your brain recover from brain fog faster include the length of time alcohol was consumed, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the individual’s overall health. However, brain fog can persist for extended periods for some individuals and may require professional intervention. This is particularly true for individuals who have been heavy drinkers for an extended period or with a severe alcohol use disorder. Moderate alcohol consumption is the best strategy for reducing the risk of alcohol-related brain damage.

• Behavioral health treatment for alcohol problems is often (but not always) covered by insurance.
• Brain fog can be hard to define since it is not a medical term or diagnosis.
• Alcohol-related neurologic disease refers to a range of conditions caused by alcohol intake that affect the nerves and nervous system.
• The Massachusetts Center for Addiction offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment programs that blend evidence-based therapies with personalized care.
• You can easily type in your location to find treatment centers near you, or browse other facilities throughout the nation that provide the services you are looking for.

Health Categories to Explore

One 2019 study showed that reaching for a cell phone did not allow the brain to recharge as effectively as other types of relaxation. A 2016 study suggested that stepping away from a task and taking a break alcohol brain fog can substantially improve your performance, focus, and degree of self-control. We’ve partnered with C60 Power, known for its 99.99% pure Carbon 60 products, to create your go-to guide for fighting brain fog.

With alcohol out of the equation, though, these chemicals cause withdrawal symptoms. Over time, however, the body builds a tolerance to alcohol, and a person may have to drink more and more to get the same feeling. Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced. Brain fog from alcohol typically lasts for 8 to 24 hours after drinking.

• Abstinence can often reverse the harm that drinking may do to the brain.
• People who experience severe withdrawal symptoms or DTs may require hospitalization or intensive care unit (ICU) treatment during alcohol.
• This can be permanent, as alcohol can cause changes to the nerves themselves.
• People who are daily or heavy drinkers may need medical support to quit.

So, if you drink before the age of 14, there’s about a 50% chance you’re going to develop an alcohol use disorder in your adulthood,” explains Dr. Anand. Knowing why you’re experiencing brain fog is an important first step in understanding what may help relieve symptoms. If you’re unsure what could be causing your brain fog, consult with a healthcare provider for advice. Caffeine directly impacts dopamine levels and other neurotransmitters contributing to your overall brain functioning, sleep, appetite, and mood. There are different ways to manage brain fog, depending on its cause. Once the fog clears, you should see your situation in a new light, and this is the moment when you will discover just how good it feels to be sober.

Several treatment options and interventions can help a person recover from alcohol dependence. Once a person stops using alcohol, they can often experience recovery from symptoms, though in some cases, some damage may be permanent. This condition can be acute, affecting people for a short period of time before resolving, or chronic, lasting for a longer period of time. Tap into your social network to help support you through alcohol withdrawal.

Quality sleep is important for nearly every aspect of our health, including our metabolism, mood, and cognitive function (attention, learning, and memory). After only one night of poor sleep, our cognitive functions and performance start to decline. We might find ourselves in that brain fog state, forgetting things more often or having difficulty concentrating. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, people who get treated for their alcohol problems have no further mental or physical symptoms one year later.

Common Questions & Answers

There’s also the potential for confounding variables, including the fact that many people like to drink alcohol to enjoy and enhance social bonds (which we know are beneficial for the brain). In fact, many people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who go through the detoxification process experience prolonged brain fog. This is largely because our body is working hard to clear a buildup of alcohol-related toxins while also battling cravings for more alcohol, making it difficult to think clearly.