This is most common in the elderly, many of whom tend to be chronically dehydrated for years.ĭehydration is also a known factor in dementia and proper hydration may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. If your brain drops 2 percent in body water, you may suffer from fuzzy short-term memory, experience problems with focusing, and have trouble with math computations.įurther studies have shown that prolonged dehydration causes brain cells to shrink in size and mass. Studies have shown that if you are only 1 percent dehydrated, you will likely have a 5 percent decrease in cognitive function. Some of the mental symptoms of dehydration include brain fog, afternoon fatigue, focus issues, depression, anger, emotional instability, exhaustion, headaches, sleep issues, stress, and a lack of mental clarity and acuity.
Brain Symptoms of Dehydrationĭehydration causes your brain to shut down and not run at full speed. When your body loses more water than you are replacing, dehydration will kick in and brain function will be affected. The reason why it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day for optimal brain function is because your brain does not have any way to store water. When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused, and experience greater clarity and creativity.ĭaily hydration will not only help with better thinking, it can help prevent attention deficit disorder in children and adults. Nerve transmission requires one-half of all the brain’s energy. Water is also needed for the brain's production of hormones and neurotransmitters. Water provides this energy more effectively than any other substance. Corinne Allen, founder of the Advanced Learning and Development Institute, brain cells need two times more energy than other cells in the body. Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes.Īccording to Dr. It is approximately 85 percent water and brain function depends on having abundant access to water. The brain is one of the most important organs in your body to keep fueled. If you are drinking less than 80 ounces of water a day, what is the impact on your brain function? Water and Brain Energy Yet according to the Mayo Clinic, the average adult loses more than 80 ounces of water every day through sweating, breathing, and eliminating wastes. drinks less than a quart (32 ounces) of water a day. Over 70 percent of your body is composed of water and every function in the body is dependent on water, including the activities of the brain and nervous system.