Hi Robin,

Brain fog and cognitive dysfunction can be MPN symptoms.
Both chronic inflammation and coagulation issues stemming from MPNs are potential mechanisms behind cognitive issues.

There are some studies that might give you some answers:
https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/ar...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10...

An item from a questionnaire evaluating the symptoms of MPNs includes “Problems with concentration—compared with before my MPD,” which means concentration and memory issues are frequent enough in MPNs:
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/118/2...

Also this:
"Fatigue in MPN is common, debilitating and distressing. It affects all aspects of health, wellbeing and life."
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.100...

Best wishes,
Tatiana

https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/118/2/401/28465/The-Myeloproliferative-Neoplasm-Symptom-Assessment

https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/118/2/401/28465/The-Myeloproliferative-Neoplasm-Symptom-Assessment

Myeloproliferative blood cancers as a human neuroinflammation model for development of Alzheimer’s disease: evidences and perspectives - Journal of Neuroinflammation

https://jneuroinflammation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12974-020-01877-3

Chorea and Cognitive Impairment in JAK2V617F-Positive Myeloproliferative Disorders: A Case Report and Literature Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10817622/

Hi Robin
I definitely have noticed tremendous issues related to my very short-term memory in the last several weeks. My diagnosis was a year ago with what is called MPN -U (this kind of puts me a little beyond ET and on the spectrum,( if there is such a thing as a spectrum )and on of primarymyelofibrosis and therefore a higher risk of progression.
To give you an example yesterday I was parked in a large parking lot outside of a shopping area,and despite the fact
I thought I would not have a problem finding my car I did. Needless to say, we all worry about the other issues dementia and Alzheimer’s but given that I’ve been under quite a lot of stress recently it could just be a temporary brain fog issue. Funny how we all obsess about all these crazy things happening to us. Thank goodness we chat with each other to gain confidence and dealing with this crazy disease
Have a calm weekend.
Diane from Toronto Ontario!🌈

Yes, I definitely have memory issues!! I'm afraid it's from the ET itself or the HU. I feel so self-conscious when I'm talking to someone + I forget a word or 2, or even forget what I'm talking about. It's so embarrassing 😳.

I am also suffering with "absent-mindedness" intermittently which is not really helpful in my line of work.

Interesting observation
I, myself, have no issue with iron