I have Fibromyalgia so I haven't slept well in a long time - tendency to wake up several times and night and I can actually go back to sleep and continue a dream. The other day I realized that I thought it was a different month than the actual month, and I know that this is from sleep deprivation. It worries me about getting early Alzheimer's disease. Rescue Remedy sleep seems to work good for me though it does cause vivid dreams.

I totally understand how depression, anxiety, and insomnia can deplete your cognitive function. Your condition is perplexing, as your cognitive problems are much worse sometimes than others. I've followed your blog for awhile and it's hard to figure out what's going on with you. I know you're baffled and your doctor must be too. But for the sleep deprivation component, have you considered sleeping meds? How about anti-anxiety meds to help you sleep better?

David. Are you trying natural supplements to boost your memory? Have you done research online to find some natural cures? You could also use some natural herbs, teas, and supplements to help you sleep better.

David, glad you wrote that article. For me, if I only get 2-3 hours of sleep I am ok during the next day.... it's the 2nd day where I find myself in a total brain fog. That has always been the norm for me, but now that I am a senior citizen I find I am over-thinking why aren't I as sharp.

Sometimes if I doze off while watching TV in the afternoon and if it is only 10-15 minutes, I do wake up clearer. Anything more, then I am a mess :P

I suspect that why you couldn't sleep is because of too much caffeine. Thus, there went the cycle of being so wired that sleeplessness occurred, then fatigue and lastly, confusion. Simple as that!

I agree that lack of quality sleep can cause confusion and ability to think clearly. Weput too much pressure on ourselves while we should be taking a break or deep breath. Maybe even a laugh would be in line to relieve the pressure. Don't worry so much.:-)

When we're children and young adults, we accept temporary loss of mental acuity due to fatigue. When we're older, often we immediately look to other causes. But many times, it's the same cause: fatigue.