Lyme disease, if left untreated, can infiltrate the nervous system, leading to a range of cognitive, neurological, and psychiatric complications. When Lyme bacteria invade the brain and spinal cord, the condition is known as neuroborreliosis—and its effects can be profound.
Cognitive Dysfunction: A Mind in Fog
One of the most common neurological effects of Lyme disease is brain fog—a frustrating, often debilitating clouding of thought. Patients describe it as:
- Difficulty concentrating – struggling to stay engaged in conversations or tasks.
- Memory lapses – forgetting names, appointments, or losing track of what they were saying mid-sentence.
- Slowed processing speed – requiring extra time to comprehend or respond to information.
These symptoms can mimic early dementia or attention disorders, leading to misdiagnosis or delays in treatment.
Mood and Psychiatric Changes: A Shifting Emotional Landscape
Lyme disease doesn’t just affect the brain—it can alter emotions and behavior in ways that are difficult to explain:
- Anxiety and panic attacks that seem to come out of nowhere.
- Depression and irritability, sometimes severe.
- Sudden mood swings—going from calm to overwhelmed in moments.
- In children, Lyme can trigger Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), causing obsessive-compulsive behaviors, separation anxiety, and emotional instability.
Some adults report paranoia, depersonalization (feeling disconnected from reality), or even hallucinations, highlighting how deeply Lyme can affect brain function.
Neurological Symptoms: A Nervous System Under Attack
As Lyme bacteria cause inflammation in the brain and nerves, patients may experience:
- Chronic headaches or migraines that don’t respond to usual treatments.
- Dizziness and balance issues, sometimes leading to falls.
- Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations in the hands, feet, or face.
- Atypical seizures or muscle twitching, in rare cases.
Untreated, Lyme can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) or encephalopathy (widespread brain dysfunction), which may result in lasting impairments.
Can the Brain Recover from Lyme Disease?
Yes—many of these effects improve or fully resolve with proper treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention are key to reducing the risk of long-term neurological issues. If symptoms persist, a multidisciplinary approach—including neurological care, cognitive therapy, and psychiatric support—can help restore function and quality of life.
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What’s your approach to Lyme brain? Methylene blue seems to help but really nothing has helped me.
I have had to individualize treatment and still Lyme and co-infections remain challenging
I wish there was a one size fits all
My son has schizoaffective disorder from a Bartonella infection, no treatment has helped so far, he has had antibiotics, ABARTS, wholistic drops, nothing helps & he’s getting worse
I am sorry to hear your son remains ill. I hope you find a solution
How “early” is early diagnosis and treatment? My daughter’s Lyme seems to have been reactivated with a Covid acute infection in March 2022 and it is only in November/December 2024 that she has had her diagnosis of Lyme and Bartonella coinfection having thought this was only Long Covid all along. Despite the fact that she is now receiving individualized antibiotic treatment, our fear is that because of the delay in diagnosis it could be too late to recover without any sequelae. We are in the UK.
I have Lyme disease who are sick for years who did well with oral antibiotics
This is me !!!! Is there a replay or a way to watch these informative videos? I missed the initial airing
Thanks for your feedback. I have been posting short videos covering common sense Lyme disease cases and questions. Stay tuned
I have been severely struggling with Morgellon’s Disease for the last 2 yrs. The 16 months were unbearable. I was bedridden & in tremendous pain. The things that were coming off my skin were sheer terrifying. My anxiety was at all time new high. I felt panicked, anxious, petrified, alone & isolated just constantly waiting for the next ball to drop…and it always did, usually worse than the previous time. I began to feel frayed like I was coming apart at the seams. The longer I struggled with this disease going to doctor after doctor, ER after ER, and urgent cares, I began to feel so hopeless and helpless. The more the doctors said there was nothing wrong with me, and this was just delusions of parasitosis, the more my family turned on me & refused to believe me, let alone support me. They actually forced me under duress to get not one, not two, but three psych evals in just over 6 months. If that wasn’t bad enough, again under complete and total duress, they forced me to sign my rights to my son over to my mom, so they could have me committed! Anyone who knows me, knows my son is my everything…my heart, my soul, my whole life. All of this led to depression eventually. There’s just so much one person can take. I passed ALL 3 psych eval with flying colors! The psychiatrist REFUSED to admit to psych ward. He tried explaining to my family that I did have severe anxiety & had fallen into a depressive state due to my physical ailment, which he believed was a chronic illness. He went on to say what I needed was to find the right doctor to diagnose & treat me and people around me to support me during this difficult time. Well, that wasn’t received. My sister went on to threaten him by stating that if he didn’t commit me she and the rest of my family would be calling CPS (they were already in contact with them at that point) and make certain that a 12 yr old boy would be taken from his home. The psychiatrist refused to back down, so my sister stormed out leaving me with no ride home. I haven’t spoken to my sister in 17 months and I don’t think I will ever speak to her again. There’s no coming back from this.
I’m telling you my back story, so you can see what a struggle and challenging time this has been. Most Morgellon’s patients have a similar story. It shouldn’t be this way. When someone suggested you in one of my Morgellon’s support group on FB, I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in 2 yrs. It was an amazing feeling! Do you treat Morgellon’s? Also, I have NJFamilyCare Insurance. Do you accept that? This disease has taken everything from me—my family, my job, my money, my looks, my self esteem, my self worth, my confidence, etc. All I dream of anymore is getting my life back…getting back to normal. If you could help me get there, I would be eternally grateful. 🙏
You are welcome to call my office at 914 666 4665 with you question
You forgot a few! According to the National Institute of Health, under Babesia alone it can also cause uncontrolled and uncontrollable laughing or crying, anorexia, abnormal sensitivity to being touched and light sensitivity. There are others, but they aren’t necessarily brain related.
The list gets pretty long once one looks deeper to the neuropsychiatric and autonomic findings in Lyme disease and co-infections.