4 Hormonal Imbalances that May be Causing Your Brain Fog

Have you been struggling with poor memory, confusion and lack of concentration? Don’t panic. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have mild Alzheimer’s. It may be a sign of brain fog.

This may be hard to believe, especially if you’ve been getting quality sleep and maintaining a healthy diet. But realize that hormonal imbalances can cause brain fog. When your hormones are out of balance, your brain may not function optimally. As a result, you may experience brain fog and low energy levels.

These are some of the ways that hormonal imbalances can cause brain fog.

1. LOW ESTROGEN LEVELS

Research shows that about 60 percent of women have cognition issues during menopause, and these issues occur due to hormonal changes. During menopause, estrogen levels drop, causing brain fog, fatigue, low sex drive and other symptoms. 

Menopause isn’t the only thing that can cause low estrogen levels. Low estrogen may occur before menopause due to excessive exercise, low-calorie intake or thyroid problems.

The good news is you can balance estrogen through moderate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and improving gut health.

2. UNDERACTIVE THYROID

The small gland located in your neck has a big impact on your health. Many of us know that the thyroid gland regulates metabolism and can trigger weight gain when it’s underactive. You should also know that your brain relies on thyroid to function optimally.

If your thyroid is underactive, you may suffer brain fog symptoms such as poor focus, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

There are quite a few ways that you can support your thyroid’s health. Getting enough sleep and reducing stress will definitely help.

3. TOO MUCH INSULIN

Insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels. When it’s unbalanced, your blood sugar levels may be too high or too low, leading to a bad mood and brain fog. Even worse, too much insulin production can lead to inflammation in the brain, according to research.

Reducing your intake of processed food helps reset insulin levels. Research also suggests that strength training and intermittent fasting may help keep your insulin levels balanced.

4. HIGH OR LOW CORTISOL

Many of us only worry about high cortisol, because we know it is associated with stress, which is known to alter brain function. However, low cortisol levels may cause harm, as well.

Low cortisol levels may occur due to a rare condition called adrenal insufficiency. According to research, this condition affects 100 in a million people. Taking cortisol-like, medication such as prednisone may also lead to low cortisol levels.