Just created this image to help portray what ‘Brain Fog’ really represents.
Sleepiness impacts cognition in more ways than is commonly recognized. However, I sense a coming shift in the sleep medicine community’s acknowledgment of this crucial issue, a takeaway I noted from attending #SLEEP2025.
I want to give a huge shout-out to Dr. Anne Marie Morse (DAMM Good Sleep) here. In a recent post, I touched on this very topic. A couple of weeks ago, Dr. Morse led a “Brain Fog” session at the Hypersomnia Foundation‘s Beyond Sleepy Conference that truly shed light on this. Her articulation was excellent, and the session was incredibly mind-opening and impactful for me. Once the stream is posted online, I’ll be linking to it on my site. ( https://youtu.be/zZ-T4TFM4Jw?si=g1pbbw0n9Olh6FHG )
From my own perspective, after reflecting more deeply on that session and the subject of “brain fog,” I’ve realized something profound. It’s not particularly difficult to notice or recognize “brain fog” when you’re experiencing it in the moment. However, putting that experience into words is a different challenge altogether. This is similar to the difficulty many have in recognizing sleepiness for what it is, often mistaking it for general exhaustion or physical tiredness from exertion.
It becomes an experience people presume is “normal,” something they just deal with, whether rarely or regularly. Articulating it precisely isn’t easy; often, one might only manage a word or two. Yet, I believe the reality is far more complex, much like the symptom presentation in Narcolepsy. There are multiple symptoms, or in this case, cognitive matters, occurring in unison—masking, fueling, or influencing one another.
——————————————————————————————-
Created a shirt, available here: Narcoplexic.printify.me
——————————————————————————————-
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Seek a qualified medical professional with expertise in Narcolepsy for diagnosis or treatment. I am not a medical professional.
Created by: Solomon Briggs
(aka Narcoplexic)
May 24th, 2025
The Unrecognized Link: Sleepiness and Cognition – ‘Brain Fog – Sleepiness Relates’ Tree Image © 2025 by Solomon Briggs is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
“You may use this tool for non-commercial purposes, but must credit Solomon Briggs