I agree that the best approach is to use a tool and deliver well built software. For every pragmatic tool you recommend some highly paid consultant or senior dev has tried to pad their resume by getting them to buy $100k of unneeded infrastructure and tools that failed miserably.
Also, some companies will not budge no matter how you present it you are better off working around the heavy process that is slowing you down. Or switch companies. Or voice you frustrations into the void of the internet like I did. http://objectatrest.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/one-process-two...
Each company is different and there is no silver bullet. You need to find out what the managers value (money, productivity, looking good to their superiors) and build a case on that.
I am not a doctor but... Cognitive issues could be stress/burnout related. Environment can also play a big part in cognitive issues. Mold illness causes cognitive/psychological issues and patients often describe the feeling as a "brain-fog". There is a relatively simple online test for mold issues found here http://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis.