brain fog

American  

[breyn fog, fawg] / ˈbreɪn ˌfɒg, ˌfɔg /

Also brain-fog,

noun

1. a mental state marked by difficulty remembering, concentrating, or thinking clearly, often caused by exhaustion, stress, or illness: For new parents, fatigue and brain fog seem inevitable.

   He had so much brain fog that a single thought felt impossible.

   For new parents, fatigue and brain fog seem inevitable.

   Research has found that long COVID can cause brain fog and memory loss.

---

Etymology

Origin of brain fog

First recorded in 1850–55; brain ( def. ) + fog ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was not designed to look directly at the long-held notion of so-called baby brain - the brain fog and memory problems that some women say come with pregnancy.

From BBC

Tessa Gonzalez, a 51-year-old from Stockton, Calif., said her primary care provider told her symptoms of brain fog and inconsistent sleep were normal for perimenopause.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Your mental health is affected. You get brain fog, you're tired, you're fatigued. You can't function as a woman – and that's every day for 10 years," she said.

From BBC

She is also calling for more support in the workplace, highlighting how brain fog, anxiety and insomnia are the top three symptoms which affect women at work.

From BBC

Barbieri said brain fog, another menopause symptom, can also be a sign of early onset dementia, although that is rare.

From The Wall Street Journal