Have You Got Brain Fog?

Forgetting names? Can’t remember where you put your keys? It’s time to makeover your mind, says Alix O’Neil, who reveals the best ways to give your grey matter a workout

There are certain inevitabilities about getting older I’ve come to accept as I settle into my mid-thirties. Pubs are intolerable unless you can nab a seat; bed after midnight favours twentysomething skin only; and any more than a couple of glasses of wine leads to a hangover of apocalyptic proportions. But the one aspect I’m struggling to get on board with is my rapidly diminishing brainpower. There’s no evidence to suggest I’m losing my cognitive abilities, obviously, it’s just a feeling of being less sharp and mentally agile than I used to be. Since having a baby over a year ago, I frequently lose my train of thought mid-sentence and my inbox is cluttered with reminders such as ‘switch offhall light’ and ‘remember phone’. It’s not just a mum thing. Many of my thirty something child-free friends are also concerned about memory loss.

Brain health is a hot topic. In recent years, biohacking – essentially any action that helps your body or mind function better – has gone from an esoteric practice favoured by Silicon Valley execs to a mainstream wellness movement. Ranging from putting butter in your coffee to extreme fasting and inserting microchip implants under the skin, it’s a controversial trend. Yet, increasingly, our grey matter matters. This year sees the publication of a host of new books on the subject, including How (Not) To Train The Brain, 100 Days To A Younger Brain, Your Brain On Food and Brain Coach. What’s behind this latest obsession?