Cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: new trends and future directions

Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2006 Dec;8(6):425-9. doi: 10.1007/s11926-006-0036-0.

Abstract

Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients often have memory and cognitive complaints. Objective cognitive testing demonstrates long-term and working memory impairments. In addition, CFS patients have slow information-processing, and FM patients have impaired control of attention, perhaps due to chronic pain. Neuroimaging studies demonstrate cerebral abnormalities and a pattern of increased neural recruitment during cognitive tasks. Future work should focus on the specific neurocognitive systems involved in cognitive dysfunction in each syndrome.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Cognition Disorders / psychology*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / complications
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / psychology*
  • Fibromyalgia / complications
  • Fibromyalgia / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Memory Disorders / complications
  • Memory Disorders / psychology*
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / psychology