It begins subtly—maybe you lose your train of thought mid-sentence, forget why you walked into a room, or reread the same paragraph three times without absorbing a word. You’re not tired, not distracted, and yet, your mind feels like it’s trying to swim through quicksand.
For millions, this isn’t a one-off moment. It’s a daily struggle known as brain fog. Once casually mentioned in support groups and chronic illness forums, the term has now earned a spotlight in scientific discourse, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.
But what is brain fog, really? Where does it come from, and why does it strike so many, so differently? From immune system misfires to the mysteries of the microbiome, click through this gallery to uncover the science of brain fog.