Young adults who struggle to concentrate, retain information, or recall words are frequently suffering from chronic sleep deprivation rather than a medical disorder, according to neurologist Olga Butenko of the Medin Medical Center.
Speaking to news website Lenta.ru, Butenko explained that brain fog is not a formal medical diagnosis. Instead, she said, the term is used by patients to describe feelings of sluggish thinking, reduced attention spans, and difficulty finding the right words in conversation.
Chronic lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of cognitive fatigue in younger demographics. Butenko noted that many young people attempt to balance academic studies with jobs, going to bed late and waking early while still making time for social gatherings and daily chores.
This relentless routine leaves the brain without adequate time for complete overnight recovery. Consequently, reaction speeds decrease, attentiveness declines, and working memory functions less effectively, leading many individuals to mistakenly believe they are becoming unnaturally forgetful.
Impact of Stress and Medical Conditions
Persistent mental tension and anxiety also play a major role in impairing concentration. Butenko highlighted that under chronic stress, processing large quantities of information, multitasking, and making everyday decisions become substantially more difficult.
Beyond lifestyle pressure, Butenko listed several physical health factors that can trigger brain fog in young people. These include recovery from past viral infections, iron deficiency, shortages of group B vitamins, anemia, and thyroid gland dysfunction.
She added that underlying anxiety disorders, depressive states, and other medical conditions can similarly produce cognitive fog. The findings build on previous comments by neurologist Artem Baryshev, who noted that while age and genetics are the primary risk factors for dementia, uncontrolled chronic conditions, obesity, and harmful habits also severely impact long-term brain function.
Understanding Brain Fog and Cognitive Health
Brain fog is a non-clinical term widely used in medicine to describe a constellation of symptoms affecting cognitive speed and executive function. Executive function includes working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control, all of which rely on adequate sleep and stable blood oxygen levels.
Deficiencies in essential nutrients like iron and B-complex vitamins directly affect red blood cell production and nerve cell metabolism. When these levels drop, energy delivery to brain tissue is compromised, leading to noticeable mental fatigue and diminished focus even in otherwise healthy young adults.
