Research suggests that many people with lupus have some cognitive problems, such as difficulty thinking clearly, concentrating, or remembering. For example, an accountant who used to be able to do multiple sums in her head now finds it difficult to balance her check book, even with a calculator. Another person reports difficulty following conversations. Sometimes it gets worse with flares. Sometimes problems seem to come and go without reason.
Some people avoid their jobs for periods of time.
But it's not something to be ashamed of. And you can usually learn to work around it. Lots of other problems can cause cognitive dysfunction. Normal thinking usually returns when the underlying problem is treated. Also, many medications can affect thought processes.