Dr Liesel van Schalkwyk writes:
Forgot where you left your keys or parked your car? The urgent reason for going to the kitchen (or where ever) has totally slipped your mind. Have you experienced this frustration yet?
Brain fog or cognitive decline might be far more severe than looking for your keys in the morning. It is an unwanted side effect of our fast-paced industrialised lifestyle. Cognitive impairment can range from mild to severe and symptoms can vary from forgetfulness, irritability, decreased ability to maintain focus and decreased problem-solving capacity. All ageing humans will develop some degree of decline in cognitive capacity which, if left unchecked, can progress into more serious conditions, such as dementia and depression, or even Alzheimer’s disease.
There is a multitude of contributing factors and it is important to identify, eliminate and treat the possible causes. The brain relies on a steady stream of oxygen and nutrients in addition to getting enough rest, relaxation and restorative sleep. Anything that affects the above will lead to cognitive decline and brain fog.
Fortunately, proactive lifestyle changes such as aerobic exercise and restorative sleep, cognitive training with neuro-feedback (Brain Training) and nutritional interventions have been shown to decrease the rate of intellectual decay and potentially reverse age-related cognitive decline.
A visit to your Health Renewal doctor will ensure that all possible causes of brain fog are excluded and a Brain Optimisation plan initiated. Targeted therapies could include assistance with weight loss, home based sleep studies (to exclude Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Upper Airways Resistance Syndrome, which severely disrupt restorative sleep), Bio-identical Hormone Replacement and supplementation. In addition, Brain Training via neurofeedback will harness your brain’s ability to change (known as neuroplasticity) and trains your brain wave patterns to improve memory.
Read the article below to find valuable information on how to recognise cognitive impairment which is impacting your daily life and how to correct your lifestyle in order to live a long and memorable life.
“I forget things almost instantly. It runs in my family… well, at least, I think it does.” – Dory, Finding Nemo
Read more about the causes of brain fog Health Renewal Newsletter here.