Biochemical survival for young parents – Blog 3
“I used to be able to concentrate well – now everything feels like fog.“
You have just put your coffee cup in the refrigerator. You walk to the bedroom and forget why you’re there. A simple to-do list feels like a big project. Recognizable? Since you’ve gotten older, your brain feels fuzzy, slow and disorganized. As if your head is no longer fully cooperating.
The Internet jokingly calls this “mom brain” or “dad brain,” but it’s more than a funny nickname. That mental fog has biochemical causes – and no, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy, stupid or unfit. Your brain is asking for help.
What’s going on?
Your brain functions on energy. And that energy is like a battery: when levels get too low, cognitive functions are the first to fail. Your attention span shortens, your memory falters and your ability to think clearly drops.
With young parents, this happens more often than you might think. Not just from lack of sleep, but from a mix of factors: chronic stress, disrupted sleep rhythms, decreased dopamine production, nutritional deficiencies, and declining NAD+ levels in your brain cells.
Why does this happen biologically?
1. Your stress system is working overtime
As a young parent, you are constantly in a state of readiness. Your brain scans the environment 24/7: “Is the baby okay?”, “Do I hear something crazy?”, “What was I supposed to take care of again?” That constant stress raises your cortisol levels – and that kills focus and memory. Chronically high cortisol levels reduce the volume of your hippocampus, the brain part responsible for learning and memory processes.
Result: worse memory, less concentration, mental fatigue.
2. Your dopamine gets out of balance
Dopamine is the “motivational neurotransmitter. It keeps you focused, completing tasks and experiencing satisfaction. But as a young parent, you get fewer dopamine triggers: less social contact, less exercise, less time for yourself. Your brain goes into savings mode.
Result: lethargy, procrastination, being easily distracted.
3. Your NAD+ supply is depleted
Every cell in your body – especially in your brain – uses NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to produce energy. But stress, lack of sleep and aging deplete this supply. Without enough NAD+, your mitochondria (your “power plants”) run less efficiently.
Result: your brain cells don’t get enough fuel to think clearly.
How does NMN help-and how does it fit into the bigger picture?
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a direct precursor to NAD+. By taking NMN, you give your cells the building blocks they need to make NAD+ – especially in energy-intensive organs such as the brain.
NMN can contribute to:
✔ More mental energy
✔ Improved concentration
✔ Improved brain function when stressed
✔ Less mental fatigue
In a study published in Nature Communications (2020), it was shown that supplementation with NAD+ boosters such as NMN improved cognitive functions in mice with stress-related brain damage.¹
In other words, when you feed your brain structurally, clarity and focus return.
What can you realistically do?
You don’t need a perfect morning routine or complete biohacking kit. But you can already improve your focus with a few small adjustments.
1. Start your day without a screen
Don’t look at your phone for the first half hour. Give your brain space to activate the dopamine cycle on its own, without overstimulation.
2. Take magnesium L-threonate
This form of magnesium reaches the brain directly and can support memory and concentration.
3. Plan short focus blocks
Work for 25 minutes concentrated (Pomodoro technique), take a 5-minute break, repeat. Small bits of concentration are more realistic than being sharp for hours.
4. Go outside for 10 minutes
Daylight helps reset your biological clock and stimulates dopamine production. A short morning walk acts as a natural focus reset.
5. Support with NMN
Quality NMN supplementation helps replenish your NAD+ levels. For many parents, it is a viable way to structurally improve energy and mental clarity. Read how NMN works here →
You are not broken – your brain needs rest, energy and building materials
Mental fuzziness is not a personal failure. It is a signal that your brain is overloaded and inadequately fed. By understanding the biochemical causes, you can stop judging yourself – and start recovering.
Next time, “How do I stay healthy and present for my children – even in the long run?“
In Blog 4, we look at your healthspan – how with small, achievable choices today, you can invest in an energetic, engaged future as a parent. For your child as well as for yourself.
📚 Sources:
- Yao, Z., et al. (2020). NAD+ supplementation reprograms energy metabolism and enhances neuroplasticity under stress. Nature Communications
