My brain doesn’t work any more?

[Ivycrescent]

Cognitively, I’m just not as sharp as I used to be.

I sit in meetings and struggle to follow the logic of what’s being discussed. These meetings are about complex topics, but rewind a few years I never had any difficulty following anything.

I struggle to focus on reading for more than a few minutes at most.

I don’t seem to absorb new information, it’s like I struggle to ‘hook it onto’ anything, if that makes any sense, new information is like sand through my fingers.

My attention is poor, if I listen to an audiobook I’m always having to go back and listrn to chunks again because my mind has wandered and I’ve lost the plot.

I used to be an articulate person but I’ve found that I often struggle to find the words I need and I’m just not fluent in expressing my ideas any more.

I’m coping fine with everyday life. I’m disorganised but that’s nothing new. But I don’t feel “sharp” any more, and quite often feel dull, stupid and slow or guilty for not paying better attention at work.

I don’t know when this started really, definitely felt worse since working at home this year. I don’t think it’s long covid, I live in a place where there was hardly any infections and track and trace never got in touch with me even once. I also think maybe this was happening before lockdown? I changed jobs in 2019 so it’s hard to compare my performance but I’m definitely not as ‘on it’ with this new job as I hoped to be or expected to be, or I should be, based on past experience. I live alone, so nobody around me to ask if they see a difference.

I’m 35. Should I go to the doctor? There is no history in my family of altzeiners or dementia, although I know it can happen to anyone. I’m worried I’ve got really early signs of something.

Blood test, better quality sleep and exercise outside in daylight should help.
I had this as a result of chemo and then radiotherapy a year later. Was really concerned my full concentration wouldn't return as it doesn't always after treatment.
Anxiety decreasing so getting better sleep and just getting outside for gentle walks has improved things massively for me.
I have to be strict with myself with the sleep though, put myself to bed like a toddler!
I read an article about dementia/Alzheimer's research and it turns out that all that brain training stuff they were pushing a few years ago has less of a preventative affect than daily exercise in daylight. Exercise for blood flow and daylight to improve sleep quality.
I would make an appointment today to ask for a blood workup at your surgery if they are not helpful you can get the ball rolling on moving while starting lunchtime walks and putting yourself to bed at 10pm.
Good luck

Are you sleeping OK op? I feel the same as you and I'm 29. I do have 4 kids and work from home though so I'm probably just tired. But I also think the lockdown has caused a new type of stress and anxiety. Too much time to think and make yourself anxious about things

God, this is me too. 38 and have several times Googled 'signs of early onset dementia' at 3am when I've laid awake worrying. I really think it must be hormone / age related, the very beginning of peri menopause maybe?Reassuring that so many are feeling the same. I'm on some pretty good multivitamins so don't think I can be deficient...

It's the clumsiness / dropping things and losing words that worries me most. How bad will it get?

I’ve felt like this since starting a new job in 2019. The biggest issue is that I can’t seem to remember anyone’s names. I’m older than you though - 44.

@SheldontheWonderSchlong your comment about ADHD is very interesting. My son was diagnosed at 13 and I’m pretty sure he gets it from me. I always struggled with organisation and I flit from one thing to another, made worse by smartphones. I pick it up to check emails and then get immediately distracted by something else! How would getting a diagnosis help me?

Also to say, with the b12, my body had stopped absorbing it through food etc, so multivitamins wouldnt have helped which is why I have to have intramuscular injections. So even though you do take a multivit, don’t discount some kind of deficiency completely x

Which vitamins are you taking? I was taking a multi, but still became iron and b12 deficient. I also take a few others that don’t come up on the blood test chart and aren’t usually in multis- such as coq10, plant-based omega 3.

Go and get your bloods checked at the doctor anyway - vitamin levels and thyroid etc. (Apologies if you’ve already been given this advice!!)

But speak to your GP about it all, too, for sure.

Thank you all, I will call and make an appointment x

What level b12 should we be aiming for? I have these symptoms and recent results show b12 at 392. Range goes up to700, I think but what would be optimal?

From the research I did when the same happened to me (although I had more symptoms), once women hit their mid 30s, your thyroid function starts to decrease - often not enough to show up as hypothyroidism on blood tests but enough to feel the difference. Often it can be ten years plus before levels go out of normal range (especially in the U.K. where our “normal range” goes shocking high for TSH). I would ask for some blood tests - various deficiencies can contribute (I had severe vitamin D and folate deficiencies and couldn’t believe how much they were affecting me until I got my levels to a good range).

I’ve felt like you describe recently. A number of work colleagues asked me if I was okay as I looked pale and tired. My hair was also falling out. Got a full set of blood tests at the GP and my iron is very low. I have heavy periods so it fits. It was actually the hair issue that convinced the GP to order blood tests. She asked me if I was also fatigued and I told how awfulI feel.

I haven’t started taking iron supplements yet so can’t report if they work or not but I’ve got my fingers crossed.

Lockdowns have been hard going especially if you live on your own. There was an article in The Guardian recently discipussing brain fog and lockdowns:www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/14/brain-fog-how-trauma-uncertainty-and-isolation-have-affected-our-minds-and-memory

As many have already said, this is a sign of B12 deficiency, even taking a multi vitamin won’t help if this is the cause

Below 500 is the area where nerve damage occurs signs are trips and dropping things as your periferal nerves are not receiving enough

You need an optimal source of B12 in the form of Methylcobalamin and most multi vitamins have either cyanocobalamin or hydroxycobalamin in minimal doses which are useless.

Added to that unless your folate levels are ok you won’t be absorbing the B12 as it needs both for adequate absorption along with vitamin C

If you’re really in trouble then the cells in your stomach which absorb B12 will have died off so then you can only absorb it sublingually with a spray or lozenge or via injection

B12 deficiency is quite common but often missed and the UK is out of step with the entire world and only treats once if is dangerously low and damage has already occurred

@Tomnooktoldmeto

So, my recent levels were 392 - how can I get the proper stuff if 500 is the baseline? Dr says levels are satisfactory so it has to be otc

Ok found some

oxfordvitality.co.uk/products/vitamin-b12-methylcobalamin-tablets?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyP6llf6i8AIVENxRCh0jPgSDEAAYAiAAEgImTvD_BwE&variant=34728545681574

@Smurfsarethefuture you can buy B12 lozenges from Amazon, I use Jarrow Methylcobalamin 1000mg if you really want to cover all bases they also do a formula with added methyl folate

41 here and similar. I thought I had symptoms of perimenopause but I got that checked out and hormone levels are really good. It's not all about hormones. Stress, fatigue and in my case depression can cause cognitive issues. A few years back I was so stressed I had twitches all over my body. It was benign but a clear sign that my mental health was suffering. I've never underestimated the effects of poor MH on the body since.

@Tomm

Do you have a name of a reputable brand or link pls? I’d like to use a good, credible brand.

Thanks, Tom

Sorry @Tomoveornot222 just seen the brand in your post!

I feel like this when I'm underhydrated - have you had any other issues like drier than normal skin, mild headaches, or darker than normal pee? I am terrible for drinking enough despite the fact I know I feel like this if I don't! Be strict for a few days and see if it improves.

@Smurfsarethefuture before I had my injections started (as I had to wait a rediculously long time for the GP to actually treat my b12 deficiency- but thats another story!!) I got a spray from Holland and Barrat which I think helped a little. My levels were 79 though so I was very deficient. If doc says 395 is ok then it could be something else, but maybe give the spray a go and see if it makes you feel any better

I was you. I started fasting, cutting out carbs, taking vitamins and making and consumingmy own kefir and kombucha.

Chronic stress shrinks your hippocampus and it can take a while to recover.

Nine months ago I could barely string a sentence together. Now I am sharp again so it can be reversed. I think inflammation from sugar and high insulin/metabolic syndrome was the cause of my issues as much as anything.

Low thyroid ?

I feel like this and I'm going into researching until I get to the bottom of it! There are some great podcasts that I listen to which interview experts in the field.
So far I've heard it could be;
Nutrient deficiencies ( get a hair strand test)
Heavy metal toxicity
Low thyriod function
Environmental toxins
Not enough exercise
Food sensitivities
Leaky gut
Stress
Hormone issues
If you want to know the name of the podcasts I've listened to let me know..

Yes I'm the same! I went back to work last year after a long stint as a SAHM (over a decade). I got a job as the same thing I'd trained in after leaving school, but I don't feel anywhere near as capable as I was back then. My brain just doesn't seem to retain info like it used to, I have to write everything down!! I'm not sure if mine is an age thing, being very rusty due to not work or a confidence thing. It's definitely knocking my confidence

Like GelfBrides recommendations too and I've felt better since doing those.