Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl, a professor of neurology at UCLA and co-founder of Cleopatra RX in Los Angeles, says that generic cognitive exercises like math puzzles and crosswords often fail to address the specific causes of mental fog. Speaking at the Livelong Women's Health Summit in New York City in September, Voskuhl told Fox News Digital that random exercises are ineffective unless they target the precise mental function that is slowing down. "They’ve got to fit the problem," she said.
Voskuhl identifies verbal memory as the primary issue for many individuals experiencing brain fog, particularly those undergoing midlife hormone changes during perimenopause and menopause. She notes that while overall intelligence and basic logic remain normal when estrogen levels drop, specific areas of the brain are affected. Experts indicate that these changes impact verbal memory, which involves recalling names and words, and processing speed, or the ability to think quickly under pressure.
Because games like Sudoku primarily exercise logic and math skills, they do not improve word-recall difficulties. Voskuhl explains that brain fog is not a global problem or a sign of global brain atrophy. Instead, research studies and MRIs show some atrophy and functional connection issues specifically in the hippocampus, the memory area of the brain. The condition typically affects retrieval rather than encoding; the word or name is stored safely in memory, but the brain's search process runs slowly.
To effectively target this condition, Voskuhl recommends exercises that focus on locating words and performing tasks with urgency. She explains that the core challenge is a deficit in processing speed, meaning the chosen activity must force the user to work rapidly. She advises against relying on generic puzzle apps and instead suggests observing where one stumbles in daily life to select matching challenges. Voskuhl states that people "know themselves" regarding what they are bad at or what they used to be good at but are no longer as proficient in. Once individuals identify these specific deficits, they can experiment with different games to see if the activity pushes them appropriately.