Abstract
Neurocognitive impairment is a feature of childhood chronic fatigue syndrome (CCFS). Several studies have demonstrated reduced attention control in CCFS patients in switching and divided attention tasks. In students, the extent of deterioration in task performance depends on the level of fatigue. Poor performance in switching and divided attention is common in both fatigued students and CCFS patients. Additionally, attentional functions show dramatic development from childhood to adolescence, suggesting that abnormal development of switching and divided attention may be induced by chronic fatigue. The brain structures associated with attentional control are situated in the frontal and parietal cortices, which are the last to mature, suggesting that severe fatigue in CCFS patients and students may inhibit normal structural and functional development in these regions. A combination of treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressant medication is effective to improve attentional control processing in CCFS patients. Studies identifying the features of neurocognitive impairment in CCFS have improved our current understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms of CCFS.
Highlights
Neurocognitive impairment in childhood chronic fatigue syndromeReviewed by: Joseph Francis, Louisiana State University, USA J
Myalgic encephalopathy (ME), known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a critical and relatively common condition in children and adolescents as well as in adults
A neurochemical investigation of the choline concentration of the frontal white matter in patients with childhood CFS (CCFS) demonstrated an increase, as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (Tomoda et al, 2000). These findings indicate abnormal cerebral blood flow, cholinergic function, and autonomic function in patients with CCFS
Summary
Reviewed by: Joseph Francis, Louisiana State University, USA J. Thomas Cunningham, Univerity of North Texas Health Science Center, USA. Neurocognitive impairment is a feature of childhood chronic fatigue syndrome (CCFS). Several studies have demonstrated reduced attention control in CCFS patients in switching and divided attention tasks. Poor performance in switching and divided attention is common in both fatigued students and CCFS patients. Attentional functions show dramatic development from childhood to adolescence, suggesting that abnormal development of switching and divided attention may be induced by chronic fatigue. The brain structures associated with attentional control are situated in the frontal and parietal cortices, which are the last to mature, suggesting that severe fatigue in CCFS patients and students may inhibit normal structural and functional development in these regions.
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