Many people over the age of 60 struggle with memory loss, brain fog, and mobility struggles. These symptoms are much rarer in children—with the exception of those who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Although a head injury or infection are commonly associated with severe cases of brain inflammation, many people suffer from milder but chronic brain inflammation, which is linked to a variety of symptoms such as brain fog, depression, autism, or Alzheimer's.
Brain "fog" is a constellation of symptoms that include reduced cognition, inability to concentrate and multitask, as well as loss of short and long term memory.
You can take a short walk to help shift your foggy mind, move away from the window, turn off your phone and plan in advance what you are having for dinner. Planning and scheduling strategies are musts for many autistics. They help not just with executive functioning but also to reduce anxiety of the unexpected.
In the autistic brain, the brain reduced connectivity, known as hypoconnectivity, allows weakly connected regions to drift apart, with sulci forming between them.” Research has shown the deeper theses sulcal pits are, the more language production is affected.
It found that a brain scan and computer algorithm using five different measurements of brain shape and structure was up to 85% accurate in identifying the autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults. These measurements could be used as a “biomarker” for autistic spectrum disorders, the researchers say.
Four social brain regions, the amygdala, OFC, TPC, and insula, are disrupted in ASD and supporting evidence is summarized; these constitute the proposed common pathogenic mechanism of ASD. Symptomatology is then addressed: widespread ASD symptoms can be explained as direct effects of disrupted social brain regions.
While memory difficulty is not part of the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is a common symptom experienced by many autistic people.
Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.
In essence, the children with autism found it hard to remember information if they needed a cognitive organizing strategy to aid recall or if they had to detect such an organizing element in the information itself.
ADHD is a disorder that affects around 8% of all adults and 11% of children in the United States. (1) ADHD symptoms can include forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, and brain fog. Brain fog is often associated with ADHD and causes people to feel unfocused and mentally exhausted.
A few different factors converge to explain why autistic people have an “overly full head” and disorganized thoughts, as well as why we may be scatterbrained, quick to lose oversight, and more prone to overstimulation and dysregulation. All these factors are likely caused by overconnectivity in the brain.
Brain fog is not a medical condition or mental health disorder. It is a term used to describe feelings of mental fuzziness, mental fatigue, and forgetfulness.
Autistic burnout might look like:
Increase in mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Withdrawing from your usual social activities or relationships. Difficulty with executive functioning, such as completing tasks and making decisions Increase in repetitive behaviors, like stimming.
Don't Forget the Physical
Staying physically active and keeping a good diet have many health benefits, and that is no different when it comes to brain fog. Studies have shown that getting regular exercise and eating a diet high in vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains can reduce cognitive decline.
Occasional brain fog is normal, especially when a person can identify a clear cause, such as being tired, having a cold, or experiencing family stress. However, people should see a doctor if: their brain fog regularly interferes with their ability to complete daily tasks.
Signs of High-Functioning Autism in Children
May appear more mature for their age and have above-average intelligence. A tendency to avoid eye contact. Trouble deviating from a routine or adapting to changes. Trouble making friends and maintaining social relationships or not “fitting in” with peers.
Some studies which looked at the brain activity of those with autism suggest that when presented with two tasks and told to focus on one of them, most people with autism can't shift their attention or focus. This is because an inability to understand which task is more important.
Being autistic in this world can result in feeling constantly confused. Let's talk about what that can be like. This confusion is present in many parts of my daily life. Mainly when interacting with other people, which is something which tends to be unavoidable, of course.
Total brain volume in boys with autism tends to be larger than that of controls before age 10. This difference fades between ages 10 and 15, as brain volume in controls increases.
Advances in diagnostic capabilities and greater understanding and awareness of autism spectrum disorder seem to be largely driving the increase, the Rutgers researchers said. But there's probably more to the story: Genetic factors, and perhaps some environmental ones, too, might also be contributing to the trend.