Memory problems

Memory problems in myalgic encephalomyelitis can be very disabling. Mental fatigue makes memory problems worse but does not account for all memory deficiencies in people with ME/CFS. A 2006 study by the CDC found that patients with CFS and high complaints of mental fatigue exhibited significant impairment in working memory.

Prevalence

 * In a 2001 Belgian study, 85.6% of patients meeting the Fukuda criteria and 89.3% of patients meeting the Holmes criteria, in a cohort of 2073 CFS patients, reported memory problems.

Symptom recognition

 * In the Canadian Consensus Criteria, impairment of concentration and short-term memory consolidation is an optional criteria for diagnosis, under the section Neurological/Cognitive Manifestations.
 * In the Fukuda criteria, the symptom of substantial impairment in short-term memory can be used to help form a diagnosis.
 * In the Holmes criteria, forgetfulness is an optional criteria for diagnosis, under the section Minor Symptom Criteria - Neuropsychologic Complaints.

Notable studies

 * 2006, Cognitive dysfunction relates to subjective report of mental fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (Full text)