Dr. Vliet’s Health Tip: COVID Brain Fog FIX: RESCUE Your Mitochondrial Energy Engines!

I am speaking as a physician with a great deal of medical, neurological, endocrine, and psychological professional training and experience.  “COVID Brain Fog” and loss of mental sharpness, acuity, concentration and focus is the result of direct toxic damage to the brain’s cellular energy engines, the mitochondria, that occurs as a direct consequence of inflammatory, vascular and oxidative stress from both COVID illness and the COVID injections.  The more COVID shots and boosters you have had, the worse the damage.  I see it in my patients every day, and I can see the evidence in people I deal with out in the world as well.  That is not just my opinion as a practicing physician.  That is fact confirmed by studies worldwide, brain imaging studies, psychometric testing, and neuroscientists evaluation of brain and nerve tissue in autopsies and biopsies.

I have focused this Health Tip on the scientific confirmation of what you may have been experiencing, and share with you my recommended ways to repair the damage and restore your mental sharpness by revving up the mitochondrial energy engines in your brain and body.

“COVID Brain Fog” encompasses a range of neurological symptoms including forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, impaired short-term memory, confusion, dizziness, and trouble finding words to express thoughts, trouble making decisions, impaired judgement, mood swings, sleep disruption, increased cases of dementia, Parkinson’s, ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.

These symptoms may persist long after the respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 have resolved and are considered manifestations of neuro-COVID, long COVID neurological effects or covid vaccine neurological damage.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after a Covid injection or a Covid illness, you are not alone. Since the 2020 pandemic, there has been a measurable and significant increases in brain dysfunction, cognitive decline, mental health issues, and neurological conditions globally.

Research studies and headlines around the world describe these problems in literally millions of people struggling with the spectrum of “COVID brain fog” symptoms and adverse effects on quality of life and health.  Here are few recent headlines: Rising Cognitive Disability as a Public Health Concern Among US Adults in Neurology Journals, Sharp rise in memory and thinking problems among US adults, study reported in the American Academy of Neurology, and Memory Problems Are Surging in Adults Under 40, Large US Study Finds  published in Science Alert.

The statistical data we have is alarming, but it is clear these numbers are LOWER than the actual damage and actual number of people suffering. These numbers are not the enormity of the full picture because the majority of doctors are not even asking patients with these symptoms whether they have had COVID shots or the COVID illness!

How can you collect accurate data on prevalence of a medical condition linked to COVID if you ignore the elephant in the room and don’t ask about the COVID shot or illness?  Even so, the numbers of people suffering are staggering. Let’s look at the data we do have:

• A new study found that “mRNA shots induce severe, long-lasting genetic disruption linked to cancer and chronic disease. It has been confirmed in these new studies that COVID-19 “vaccines” SEVERELY disrupt expression of THOUSANDS of genes—triggering mitochondrial failure, immune reprogramming, and oncogenic activation that can persist for MONTHS to YEARS post-injection. Differential gene expression analysis compared mRNA-injured patients (cancer, adverse events) to 803 healthy controls — revealing widespread transcriptomic CHAOS.”
• New neurological diagnoses increased after COVID-19 infection, with acute phase risks are significantly elevated for encephalopathy (2.0 times), dementia (1.36 times), seizure (1.77 times), and brain fog (1.96 times). These risks persisted in the post-acute phase, with increases in inflammatory myopathy (muscle damage), neuropathy (nerve damage), and coma.
• The prevalence of cognitive disabilities among American adults rose from 5.3% in 2013 to 7.4% in 2023, with a sharp rise especially in adults under 40 according to the CDC. My comment: this is an alarming increase in YOUNG people, not normally an age group with such marked cognitive decline.
• COVID-19 infection is associated with about a 7% increased risk of new neurological conditions compared to uninfected individuals. This translates to millions of cases of brain impairment worldwide linked to the virus.​ This figure does NOT include the greater risk of brain inflammation and damage due to the COVID shots, which is much worse and more long-lasting due to the damage from the toxic lipid nanoparticles.
• Among “long COVID” (most of whom I think are actually vaccine-injured) patients, cognitive impairment rates vary, with around 27% experiencing memory and cognitive difficulties. Severity of initial infection influences these rates, with severe ICU cases showing higher prevalence. In my clinical experience, people who went longer without proper treatment of COVID illness also have more problems with cognitive damage many months after recovery from the acute respiratory symptoms.  Again, these figures are NOT addressing the even higher rates of damage from the COVID shots.
• Increased rates of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s (3.4 times more frequent) and Parkinson’s disease (2.2 times) have been observed in COVID-19 positive individuals compared to negatives, along with higher rates of ischemic stroke and cerebrovascular events post-COVID infection.  These rates are even higher in  those who got the COVID shots. The more boosters a person gets, the greater the risk of brain impairment.

MULTIFACTORIAL CAUSES OF COVID BRAIN:  These are some of the major ones that are not adequately evaluated in most medical settings today, and clearly have to be addressed in order to help repair damage, and restore mental clarity! We will do more in-depth articles and seminars on these topics in the weeks to come.

1. Damage to Mitochondria: The Brain’s Energy Engines. Mitochondria throughout the body, and especially the brain, are the organelles in cells that serve an absolutely essential role in providing cellular energy to drive normal healthy brain function.   Review my earlier health tip: Our Once Mighty Mitochondria – How To Recover from Damage! for a broader discussion on mitochondria function and the function of all our body systems.  I discuss the role of mitochondria in more detail below, and also some ways to help you repair the damage to mitochondria.
2. Neuroinflammation triggered by the COVID-19 illness (which often has mixed viral-bacterial components causing damage), and by the COVID 19 injections, both of which are producing spike protein damage, and the COVID shots add more toxic damage from the LNP coating of the mRNA. Both illness and shots generate a potent inflammatory response, including a cytokine storm with elevated cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and interferon-γ crossing the blood-brain barrier, which worsens its permeability and allows immune mediators to affect the brain.
3. Production of neurotoxic substances disrupting normal brain function. Chemical mediators of inflammation then activate the brain’s immune cells—microglia and astrocytes—that when overactivated produce neurotoxic substances disrupting normal brain function.​
4. Direct viral invasion—and COVID shot LNP and spike protein—damage  brain endothelial cells lining blood vessels and disrupt the blood-brain barrier.  This leads to impaired blood flow (ischemic injury) and reduced nutrients and oxygen to brain tissue. Loss of oxygen (hypoxia) and ischemic injuries lead directly to the cluster of symptoms we call “COVID brain fog” and over time, lead to more severe neurodegenerative damage and diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, ALS, MS flare-ups, and other consequences of vascular and hypoxic damage.
5. Hormone imbalances and loss of optimal levels of thyroid, ovarian and testicular hormones that regulate many areas of brain function. Most doctors never check ovarian and testicular hormone levels, unless younger couples are trying to conceive and getting fertility testing.  Yet both estradiol and testosterone play critical roles in regulating memory, focus, attention/concentration, sleep, pain, mood and other critical functions.  COVID illness and COVID shot damage to ovaries and testicles, and hormone production has been clearly demonstrated in studies worldwide the last 5 years, yet it is still very rare for anyone to evaluate this factor in patients struggling with “COVID brain fog.”  These same hormone deficiencies ADD to mitochondrial damage, creating a vicious cycle. I have presented a number of seminars on this topic, check our archive at www.TruthforHealth.org
6. Vitamin deficiencies of critical vitamins and minerals to support brain metabolism.  Critical ones include Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, B complex of vitamins that all play critical roles in brain metabolic pathways to regulate cognition, mood, and sleep.  These same vitamin deficiencies ADD to mitochondrial damage, creating a vicious cycle. I have written many earlier Health Tips on these topics, so check the archive of Dr. Vliet’s Health Tips at www.ShopTruthforHealth.com
7. Medication side effects:  There are many medicines that can aggravate the symptoms of COVID brain fog (decreased focus, fuzzy thinking, loss of motivation, memory impairment, mood lability to name a few) , even if they are not a direct cause of the damage after COVID illness and injections.  These include SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antipsychotics, narcotics, statins, marijuana for a few of the worst offenders. These same adverse medication effects ADD to mitochondrial damage, creating a vicious cycle.

CLOSER LOOK AT MITOCHONDRIA AND BRAIN FUNCTION
Circling back to the first cause of COVID brain damage, and the focus of this Health Tip, mitochondria produce the energy neurons need to operate, making them critical for brain function.

Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cells, generating ATP which is essential for synaptic transmission and plasticity, and all aspects of function in the brain’s nerve pathways.  Neurons are highly energy-dependent, and mitochondrial dysfunction leads to reduced ATP production, disrupting these critical processes and causing synaptic failure and cognitive impairment.

Mitochondrial damage from COVID shots and illness also causes excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which damage DNA, proteins, and cellular structures in neurons. This oxidative stress accelerates neuronal damage and is linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and others. Mitochondrial impairment also triggers inflammatory responses that further aggravate brain damage, so it creates a vicious cycle.  So, in summary, mitochondrial damage leads to cognitive decline, memory loss, slower information processing, neuro-degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS, and increased risk of dementia diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Studies show mitochondrial dysfunction in muscles correlates with increased brain amyloid deposits and neuroinflammation.  This is a major finding that suggests broader impact of mitochondrial damage in other parts of the body having major adverse effects on the brain as well as to increase the whole syndrome we call COVID Brain and neurodegeneration risk.

Mitochondrial dysfunction can cause more symptoms than just “COVID Brain Fog,” including vision loss, migraines, seizures, hearing loss, ataxia, and other neurological impairments. These disorders emphasize the critical role of mitochondria in overall nervous system function and health of neurons.  That’s why boosting mitochondrial function is extremely important in today’s post-vaccine injury/long COVID world with the extensive and critical damage to mitochondrial function.

The message is clear, maintaining mitochondrial health is vital for sustaining brain energy metabolism, reducing oxidative stress, and limiting neuroinflammation to preserve cognitive function and protect against neurodegenerative disease.

REPAIRING MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE, RESTORING MITOCHONDRIAL HEALTH:
Several supplements have been shown to improve mitochondrial function and support brain health through various mechanisms such as enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis, protecting against oxidative stress, and improving energy production.

Ergothioneine, found in our bestselling TruMitochondrial™ Boost, is a newly discovered and key vitamin derived from naturally fermented mushrooms.  You may never have heard of it, but there are impressive data to show direct improvement in mitochondrial function when used daily at the right dose, with a high-quality product actually derived naturally from mushrooms rather than a synthetic copy made in the lab.
Blood levels of Ergothioneine decline with age, and a faster decline is observed in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.  Humans do not synthesize ergothioneine, so we must obtain it through our diet or supplements. These are two big reasons TruMitochondrial™ Boost is a critical supplement to include in your daily regimen to ward off the ravages of aging, nutritional deficits, and environmental stress in our lives.
L-ergothioneine (in our TruMitochondrial™ Boost) is 34 times more effective than glutathione and has 10 times better antioxidant capacity than polyphenols found in fruits and vegetables!

NIH reported that L-Ergothioneine is a better free radical scavenger than glutathione and vitamin C and is a powerful energy booster that scavenges all forms of free radicals: Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), Reactive Chlorine Species, Reactive Nitrogen Species, and inflammation base free radicals.

Clinical studies have shown that L-ergothioneine (in our TruMitochondrial™ Boost) increased lifespan 12.8% and healthspan (which is the quality of your lifespan and the more important measure) increased by 42.6%.

How Ergothioneine Works: This crucial vitamin improves mitochondrial function in the brain through its potent antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, and by activating specific mitochondrial regulatory pathways.

• Antioxidant Protection: Ergothioneine is a sulfur-containing amino acid with strong antioxidant properties. It reduces oxidative stress by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing lipid peroxidation in brain mitochondria, protecting mitochondrial DNA and membranes from oxidative damage. This preservation of mitochondrial integrity supports neuronal survival and function.
• Mitochondrial Regulation via AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α Pathway: Ergothioneine activates the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway in the brain, which promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, improving mitochondrial number and function. This enhances energy production and resilience of neurons, contributing to better cognitive performance.
• Neuroprotective Effects and Cognition: Ergothioneine increases brain levels of neurotrophic factors like BDNF and synaptic proteins such as PSD95, which support neuroplasticity, learning, and memory. It also attenuates neuroinflammation, reducing neuronal injury in aging and disease models.
• Mitochondrial Enzyme Activation: Recent research identified Ergothioneine binds to and activates the mitochondrial enzyme 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfur transferase (MPST), enhancing mitochondrial respiration and energy production. This EGT-MPST axis improves mitochondrial function and physical endurance, which may translate to brain mitochondrial health.
• Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability: Ergothioneine is actively transported into the brain via the OCTN1 transporter, concentrating in neurons where it exerts its protective effect

L-ergothioneine (L-ET) found in TruMitochondrial™ Boost is the supplement form that in our product is actually derived from naturally fermenting mushrooms, then purified into a high-quality supplement in a capsule taken daily. It provides mitochondrial and neuroprotective benefits in the brain for improved cognitive function and healthy brain aging.
As I mentioned earlier, this is one of the products in our Truth for Health store that I am most proud of, & has consistently been our best seller…because it works!

Before I recommended it to patients, I wanted to try it personally, so I started taking it in August of 2023.  I never got the COVID shots, I take very few medications, have good energy and overall health.  I didn’t really think I had any problems with attention concentration and memory or mental acuity. But even I was surprised at the improvement in mental clarity concentration focus and memory when I started taking this supplement at the therapeutic dose of one capsule morning and evening. It really amazed me at the difference I noticed, so I have continued to take it every day since.  For those who want a deeper dive on this subject, here it is:

TruMitochondrial™ Boost is different from other L-ET products in two important ways:

(1) TruMitochondrial™ Boost is a 99% pure, concentrated L-ET ingredient developed via a proprietary fermentation-based method. This sustainable production method is preferable to chemical synthesis or expensive purification of L-ET from food and results in the stable thione-based L-isomer in free amino acid form.
(2)  the dose per capsule is higher than other products, which means only two capsules per day are needed to reach the therapeutic dose level of 25 mg shown effective in clinical studies (and the dose I take every day).

TruMitochondrial™ Boost may be just what you need to combat COVID Brain Fog!

• L-Ergothioneine (L-ET) is known as the “Longevity Vitamin” because it is the longest lasting, deepest penetrating oral antioxidant that has profound anti-inflammatory actions, eliminates DNA damaging acids, and increases mitochondrial function.
• L-ergothioneine is a naturally occurring thiol/thione derivative of histidine synthesized by certain fungi and bacteria. In recent years, an abundance of scientific literature has demonstrated L-ET’s antioxidant and cellular protective properties.
• L-ET has been shown to decrease the rate of oxidative stress–induced telomere shortening, which has implications for human longevity.
• L-ET decreases nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage which suggests that L-ET is a genomic stabilizer.
• In the central nervous system, L-ET crosses the blood–brain barrier and is neuroprotective.
• The results of a cross-sectional study correlated low levels of L-ET with dementia severity and suggested that serum L-ET level could be a potential biomarker associated with cognitive impairment.

TruMitochondrial™ Boost works to increase mitochondrial metabolic activity even under conditions of extreme oxidative stress (such as when we are sick!), inhibits lipid peroxidation 271% better than CoQ10, and increases cell viability by 45% and prevents damage to mitochondria and DNA.

Mitochondria also play a critical role in immune system function. This dual role of our mitochondria—energy production and immune regulation—explain why when we are sick and fighting infection we are often fatigued. During illness, mitochondria shift their focus to immune system response to infection, not producing energy. Humans cannot  synthesize ergothioneine, so we must acquire it through dietary intake or supplementation to support our mitochondria so they can support us!

Other Supplements to Improve Mitochondrial Function:

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): A powerful antioxidant that crosses the blood-brain barrier and supports mitochondrial enzyme complexes. It reduces free radical damage and regenerates endogenous antioxidants like glutathione, supporting brain mitochondrial function.
• Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): An essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain that facilitates ATP production. Supplementation can reduce oxidative damage and improve energy metabolism, especially important in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Take with fats for better absorption.
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR): Facilitates the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria for energy production. It protects mitochondrial membranes and may reverse age-related mitochondrial decline, benefiting both metabolism and brain function.
• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): Precursor to glutathione, a key intracellular antioxidant that protects mitochondria from oxidative stress and supports the formation of new mitochondria.
• Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) / NAD+ Precursors: These boost intracellular NAD+ levels, which decline with age. NAD+ activates sirtuins that regulate mitochondrial function, biogenesis, and stress responses, thereby enhancing mitochondrial health and slowing aging-related decline.
• Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ): Stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis by activating key transcription factors like PGC-1α, increasing mitochondrial DNA replication and number. It also reduces inflammation linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.
• Urolithin A: Enhances mitophagy, the selective recycling of damaged mitochondria, thereby improving mitochondrial quality and function.
• Creatine: Supports ATP buffering during high energy demand, protecting mitochondria and improving cognitive function.
• Melatonin: Beyond its role in sleep, melatonin promotes mitochondrial fusion, biogenesis, and mitophagy, protecting mitochondria from damage and supporting cellular energy balance. But women need to be cautious about taking melatonin supplements since studies show that it can lead to increased cortisol, weight gain, headaches in women but not men.

These supplements work synergistically to bolster mitochondrial energy production, reduce oxidative damage, promote mitochondrial renewal, and support brain health, especially beneficial in aging and neurodegenerative disease contexts.

Additional Supplements to Improve Brain Function:   These have the strongest evidence for cognitive improvement, especially in aging populations.

• B Vitamins (Folate, B12, B6): Multiple randomized controlled trials show that supplementation with B vitamins, particularly folate and B12, improves memory, verbal intelligence, and overall cognitive scores in older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment. These vitamins help reduce homocysteine levels linked to cognitive decline and support brain function.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA): Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, is well-supported by evidence for improving cognitive function, working synergistically with folate in clinical trials to enhance memory and executive function.
• Magnesium L-Threonate: This form of magnesium crosses the blood-brain barrier and has demonstrated benefits in improving memory, learning, and synaptic density in the brain, supporting cognitive function and neural plasticity.
• Multivitamins: Large-scale studies and meta-analyses indicate that daily multivitamin supplementation containing essential vitamins and minerals can slow global cognitive aging and improve episodic memory in older adults, making it a safe, accessible strategy.

Lifestyle Strategies to Improve Brain Health: Key components showing beneficial support for mitochondrial, cognitive health, and mood stability include:

• Nutrition – a balanced diet rich in healthy fats, antioxidants from whole fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins such as a Mediterranean diet to support mitochondrial function and metabolic efficiency.
• Physical activity and exercise – a combination of moderate aerobic exercise, HIIT (high intensity interval training) and resistance training to stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and cell regeneration, improving energy metabolism.
• Stress management techniques such as meditation, yoga, and acupuncture reduce oxidative stress detrimental to mitochondria.
• Red-light therapy to activate mitochondrial enzymes and improve energy production.
• Photo biomodulation (red and near-infrared light therapy) stimulates cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, boosting ATP production and reducing oxidative stress. It promotes mitochondrial repair, increases mitochondrial membrane potential, and supports neuroprotection and tissue regeneration.
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) delivers high levels of oxygen under pressure, increasing tissue oxygenation and stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis. HBOT enhances reactive oxygen species signaling at low levels, which triggers adaptive mitochondrial responses and improves cellular energy metabolism and healing.
• Cold plunge (cold water immersion) activates mitochondrial biogenesis via stress signals such as increased norepinephrine and AMPK activation. Cold exposure improves mitochondrial efficiency and fat oxidation by promoting mitochondrial uncoupling and biogenesis, also reducing inflammation.
• Sauna (especially infrared sauna) induces heat stress that activates heat shock proteins and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways such as PGC-1α, improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative damage. It also enhances cellular repair and metabolic efficiency.
• Intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy by activating AMPK and sirtuins, promoting cellular cleanup and renewal.
• Moderate hypoxia exposure or altitude training can enhance mitochondrial biogenesis via hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs).

Dr. Vliet’s MITOCHONDRIAL BRAIN RESCUE FORMULA:
(In addition to our basic Health and Resilience Foundational Formula):

• TruMitochondrial™ Boost – containing L-ergothioneine one of the most effective and convenient ways to optimize and support your mitochondrial function and provide neuroprotective benefits in the brain for improved cognitive function and healthy brain aging.
• TruB™ Full Spectrum – a complete balanced methylated Vitamin B complex strongly linked to reduction of cognitive decline and support of brain function. TruB™ Full Spectrum features activated forms of vitamins B2, B6, and B12; benfotiamine, a fat soluble, more physiologically active form of thiamine; and folate as Quatrefolic®, which is proven to have greater stability, solubility, and bioavailability.
• TruOmega™ Pure with DHA, as well as EPA and DPA featuring MaxSimil® monoglyceride fish oil that has a three times greater EPA+DHA absorption rate than an equivalent dose of other leading fish oils. MaxSimil has a patented lipid absorption enhancement technology (PLATform) so the fish oil is absorption-ready and can be directly assimilated in the intestinal tract for maximum benefit.

CAUTION: As always, we urge you to avoid supplements without checking knowledgeable sources to evaluate your medical situation, proper lab tests to verify what is needed, and to make sure to avoid adverse interactions with prescription medicines and other supplements you take.

All Truth for Health Foundation Products Meet or Exceed cGMP Quality Standards, the highest quality standard for supplements sold in the USA.

For more information, references from studies are listed in the Product Data Sheets for each product, available on our website.  Under medical practice regulations, we are unable to answer individual medical questions or make specific individual supplement recommendations for people who are not established patients of Dr. Vliet’s independent medical practice.

I encourage you to consider our other natural medicines with our top quality, cGMP-compliant professional formulas for TruImmune™Boost, TruNAC™, TruImmunoglobulin,™ TruC with BioFlav™ (Vitamin C with complete Bioflavonoids), Tru BioD3™, TruZinc™, TruMitochondrial ™Boost and TruProBiotic™ Daily to replenish critical bifidobacteria depleted by COVID shots, viral illnesses, and antibiotic therapy.

To Your good health and improving resilience!
Elizabeth Lee Vliet, MD

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