Episode 84: Brain Fog, and Hashimoto’s: Is Your Thyroid to Blame?
Are you experiencing brain fog, memory issues, slower thinking, or difficulty concentrating, yet your bloodwork keeps coming back “normal”? These symptoms may be early signs of thyroid dysfunction, especially related to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or hypothyroidism, and they’re more common than you think.
In this episode, we uncover the powerful and often overlooked link between thyroid health and cognitive decline. You'll learn how thyroid hormones like T3 affect brain function, mood, focus, and mental clarity, and why even subtle imbalances or thyroid antibodies can trigger symptoms long before diagnosis. We’ll explore the role of autoimmunity, neuroinflammation, gut health, nutrient deficiencies (like B12, iron, and selenium), and chronic stress in contributing to mental fatigue, forgetfulness, and emotional imbalances.
We also walk through the functional testing you should consider beyond standard TSH labs, and share a real-life client story of how a root-cause approach led to a full cognitive turnaround. If you feel foggy, unfocused, or not quite yourself, and suspect your thyroid might be the missing link, this episode gives you the tools, insight, and next steps to reclaim your energy and mental clarity, starting today!
DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast and related website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to be used to diagnose or treat, instead it is designed to help educate and inspire. Always seek the advice of a professional medical practitioner or qualified health practitioner. Never ignore or disregard advice given to you based on information in this podcast or related website and do not delay in seeking medical advice.
Timestamps:
[02:12] - What is brain fog?
[04:20] - How the thyroid impacts brain function
[06:50] - Autoimmunity and the brain
[09:35] - The Gut-Brain-Thyroid axis
[10:55] - The adrenal and stress connection
[12:00] - Nutritional deficiencies
[13:00] - Functional testing for brain fog and fatigue
[16:35] - Real-life case study
“The important thing to understand is that brain fog is a symptom. It’s not a cause. It’s your body’s way of saying that something is out of balance, but the source of that imbalance can vary greatly.”
Essential learnings from this episode…
Brain fog isn’t just in your head, it’s a cluster of real symptoms that often point to deeper root causes like thyroid dysfunction or inflammation.
Even slight changes in hormone levels can impact your focus, memory, and emotional balance.
Hashimoto’s can affect your brain before it shows up in standard labs.
The gut, adrenals, and thyroid are all connected. Inflammation, leaky gut, and stress can drive both thyroid issues and cognitive symptoms, and must be treated together.
Nutrient deficiencies may mimic cognitive decline. Low levels of B12, iron, selenium, and omega-3s can significantly affect energy, focus, and memory, especially in thyroid patients.
Functional testing reveals what standard labs often miss and you can uncover the real cause behind brain fog.
EPISODE 84
Important links & mentions from this episode
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