CLUSTER — 5 CAUSES
Mental Health & Neurodivergence
Brain fog associated with depression, ADHD, autism, social isolation, and psychiatric conditions.
Causes in This Category
Adhd
ADHD isn't just 'hyperactive kids' — it's a neurodevelopmental condition affecting executive function, working memory, and sustained attention in adults. Inattentive-type ADHD (wit...
Autism
Autistic burnout is NOT depression — and treating it with antidepressants alone doesn't work. A 2024 study validated the first measurement tool (Autistic Burnout Measure) and confi...
Depression
Depression is not just sadness — it causes measurable cognitive impairment: reduced processing speed, impaired working memory, difficulty concentrating, and poor decision-making. T...
Social
Humans are social animals — isolation literally shrinks the brain. Loneliness activates the same neuroinflammatory cascades as physical injury. Social isolation is now recognized a...
Psychiatric
NOT ALL COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS ARE 'BRAIN FOG' — some are psychiatric emergencies. Bipolar disorder (manic/depressive episodes with cognitive impairment), psychotic disorders (hallucin...