Brain fog: Can medical cannabis help?

What is brain fog?

The term ‘brain fog’ acts as an umbrella, referring to a range of different cognitive symptoms that impede mental clarity. These symptoms are associated with memory, learning, and often concentration and attention, and so brain fog can greatly affect day-to-day life, activities, and even relationships. 

Typical brain fog symptoms include:

• Difficulty remembering things - particularly in the short term. 
• Struggling to process information.
• Lack of concentration.
• Feeling overwhelmed by normal tasks.
• Difficulty socialising.

What causes brain fog?

The exact cause of brain fog is not fully understood but it may be linked to a number of health conditions, as well as lifestyle factors, and, the use of certain medications.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these potential causes:

Health conditions and brain fog

As we mentioned before, there are several health conditions that have been associated with brain fog symptoms. This includes chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, as well as anxiety, insomnia, multiple sclerosis (MS), and long COVID. And, in most of these conditions, it's a prominent symptom - for example, current reports indicate that between 15% and 40% of people with chronic pain may experience brain fog. 

While research into the dynamics between pain and attention interactions is ongoing, the connection appears to be multi-faceted with evidence indicating that sleep disturbance, altered brain chemistry, and increased stress in people with chronic pain, may all play a role in the causation of brain fog. 

This symptom is also prevalent among patients with anxiety disorders. It’s theorised this could be due to the physiological and psychological processes that play a role in anxiety, with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol affecting the functioning of the hippocampus, which is vital in learning and memory. 

Lifestyle and brain fog

Lifestyle factors such as diet and sleep quantity are also commonly associated with brain fog. 

Unsurprisingly, sleep is extremely important for maintaining healthy brain function. A lack of sleep and poor sleep quality, therefore, commonly contributes to difficulty performing mental tasks, processing information, and consolidating memories. 

But, perhaps more surprisingly, our diet may also play an important role in brain fog. 

Diets high in processed foods and unhealthy fats can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which researchers have theorised may increase the risk of developing brain fog, as well as other serious health concerns. Nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium are all essential for healthy brain function. 

Medications and brain fog

It’s also known that certain medications can trigger brain fog symptoms, including forgetfulness, lack of concentration, and confusion. These side effects are particularly prevalent with pain and sleep medications, including opioids, anticholinergics, and some antidepressants. 

While opioids are widely prescribed for pain management, despite a range of significant side effects and safety concerns including cognitive impairment, these drugs have been found to alter brain chemistry, potentially leading to deficits in attention, memory, and executive function. These side effects are often intolerable, and often contribute to a patient's motivation when seeking out alternative therapies.

Menopause and brain fog

Brain fog is one of the most commonly reported symptoms by women going through perimenopause or menopause. In fact, some research indicates that up to 73% of individuals may experience brain fog during this time. 

This is likely due to the decline of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone, which play a key role in memory formation and retrieval. In addition, this hormonal decline has also been linked to an increased risk of dementia; however, more research is needed to fully understand this association.

How to get rid of brain fog

Methods of managing brain fog effectively depend on the cause of the symptoms. If your brain fog symptoms are associated with lifestyle factors such as not getting enough sleep or a poor diet, improving these aspects of your daily routine are likely to help. Practices typically recommended if this is the case include: 

• Getting regular exercise
• Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation
• Minimising distractions
• Managing stress

However, in some cases, particularly where brain fog is linked to an existing health condition, further action may be recommended. This can include psychological treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy, or alterations to your treatment regime - for example, changing medications or dosage. 

Many patients are interested medical cannabis treatment due to the cognitive effects of their current medications. 

But, can medical cannabis help with brain fog? 

Medical cannabis and brain fog

Since its legalisation in the UK in 2018, medical cannabis has become increasingly popular with patients seeking an alternative to conventional therapies. This includes treatment of many conditions that can be associated with brain fog, including fibromyalgia, anxiety, and even menopause. 

Some patients report improvements in cognitive function when making the switch to medical cannabis. Take Releaf patient Simon, for example. Having lived with migraines for most of his life, Simon had tried various medications to manage his symptoms; however, he found that conventional therapies were not adequately effective.  

“I do still have migraines, but with my new treatment option, if I feel one coming on, I know that I will almost always be able to stop it before it gets severe, and that the migraine and the treatment option won't leave me with that horrible fuzzy hangover feeling the next day.”

What does the evidence say?

The current literature regarding cannabis use and cognitive symptoms such as brain fog is conflicting. So, does cannabis cause brain fog? Or could it help? 

A recent study found that long-term (12 months) medical cannabis use was not associated with significant differences in working memory, reward, or inhibitory control tasks. Another study even found that cancer patients treated with medical cannabis reported improvements in cognitive function.

However, a number of other studies have identified potential negative associations between cannabis use and cognitive symptoms. One review, published in 2022, found that, of 23 included studies, six reported cognitive impairments, compared with only one study that found cognitive improvement after initiation of medical cannabis. 

Further research has also identified possible links between recreational cannabis use and negative cognitive effects. This is particularly seen with long-term and chronic cannabis use. These findings highlight the importance of responsible prescribing of cannabis-based medicines, and monitored clinical care. 

Final thoughts

Our high-quality medical cannabis products are prescribed under the supervision of knowledgeable clinicians who are always on hand to guide you through your treatment routine. Making changes to your treatment is straightforward, ensuring your medical cannabis journey is tailored to suit you and your needs. 

To learn more about our medical cannabis prescription options, complete our Eligibility Checker today.