Mij
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
"Cog-Fog" in MS
For some people, cognitive fog involves misplacing objects. “I took out a simple bagel this morning, and I thought I set it down somewhere on the counter,” one MyMSTeam member shared. “I went to retrieve it after it was thawed, and it had vanished. I thought one of my dogs took it because they enjoy taking things off the counter, but that was not the case.”
Brain fog may also affect speech or cause difficulty recalling words. “I get my words mixed up, and pronunciation sometimes can be a struggle,” a MyMSTeam member wrote.
It can happen anywhere, and for many people with MS, the symptom is particularly concerning on the job. “At work, sometimes I’m just not ‘all there,’” a MyMSTeam member shared. “I still have to plow through it, both because I want to and because work demands it.”
Memory
People with brain fog may struggle with forgetfulness. They may have trouble remembering people’s names, recent events, or preplanned tasks. If brain fog affects your memory, you may lose objects or miss appointments.Concentration
Brain fog can make it hard to concentrate. You may get distracted or confused when listening to several people talking at the same time. You may even experience information overload. This feeling is often described as an inability to process what’s going on in front of you. It can be harder to focus on one person or task in a noisy or chaotic setting.Remembering Words
Everyone struggles to find the right word from time to time. However, if brain fog is among your MS symptoms, you may have particular difficulty recalling words. For example, you might find yourself unable to come up with the word “restaurant,” instead describing it as “a place where you order food.”Processing Information
MS can make it harder to understand information and follow complicated instructions, especially if there’s a lot to take in at once. Your brain may process what’s happening more slowly, making it tougher to keep up.Executive Skills
Brain fog from MS can make it harder to plan, solve problems, and think ahead. These changes often reflect problems with executive functioning — the mental skills that help you organize and manage daily tasks. You might not notice these changes at first, but someone close to you might. For example, they may see you’re making quick decisions without thinking them through.Visuospatial Abilities
Another way brain fog may affect you is through visuospatial skills — the ability to understand what you see and where things are around you. Your brain uses these skills all day to make sense of your surroundings. Brain fog can affect this ability. You might become lost in familiar places, bump into objects by accident, or have trouble judging speed and distances while driving.What Does MS Brain Fog feel like?
MS cog fog often causes people to become forgetful or confused or to feel generally “out of it.” As one MyMSTeam member put it, “I’ve noticed that I can zone out.”For some people, cognitive fog involves misplacing objects. “I took out a simple bagel this morning, and I thought I set it down somewhere on the counter,” one MyMSTeam member shared. “I went to retrieve it after it was thawed, and it had vanished. I thought one of my dogs took it because they enjoy taking things off the counter, but that was not the case.”
Brain fog may also affect speech or cause difficulty recalling words. “I get my words mixed up, and pronunciation sometimes can be a struggle,” a MyMSTeam member wrote.
It can happen anywhere, and for many people with MS, the symptom is particularly concerning on the job. “At work, sometimes I’m just not ‘all there,’” a MyMSTeam member shared. “I still have to plow through it, both because I want to and because work demands it.”