Mental Confusion
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may notice that your mental clarity and memory aren’t as sharp as during other times of the year. A new study has found that this is due to the stress that allergies put on the body. When the body is under stress, it releases hormones like cortisol that can interfere with cognitive function.
While the mechanisms by which allergens cause these changes in cognitive function are not fully understood, researchers suggest that it may be due to the impact of allergens on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the part of the brain responsible for regulating stress hormones like cortisol. The HPA axis is known to be involved in cognitive function and immunity, so allergies may contribute to cognitive impairment by disrupting the HPA axis. However, more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
Although more research is needed to understand exactly how and why this happens, it’s clear that allergies can significantly impact mental clarity and memory recall. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals struggling with cognition issues during allergy season to talk to a doctor about it. They will provide ways to mitigate the effects of allergies on the brain.
