Journal Article

Cognitive Dysfunction in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome—Aetiology and Potential Treatments

Carding, Simon R., Seton, Katharine A., Brooks, Jonathan C. W., Bansal, Amolak Singh

2025

Overview

Systemic infection and inflammation impair mental function through a combination of altered attention and cognition. Here, we comprehensively review the relevant literature and report personal clinical observations to discuss the relationship between infection, peripheral inflammation, and cerebral and cognitive dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Cognitive dysfunction in ME/CFS could result from low-grade persistent inflammation associated with raised pro-inflammatory cytokines. This may be caused by both infectious and non-infectious stimuli and lead to altered regional cerebral blood flow accompanied by disturbed neuronal function. Immune dysregulation that manifests as a subtle immunodeficiency or the autoimmunity targeting of one or more neuronal receptors may also be a contributing factor. Efforts to reduce low-grade systemic inflammation and viral reactivation and to improve mitochondrial energy generation in ME/CFS have the potential to improve cognitive dysfunction in this highly disabling condition.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Animals / Attention / Autoimmunity / Blood / Chronic fatigue syndrome / Cognition & reasoning / Cognition disorders / Cognitive ability / Cognitive Dysfunction - etiology / Cognitive Dysfunction - therapy / Cytokines / Cytokines - metabolism / Encephalomyelitis / Enzymes / Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - complications / Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - etiology / Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - therapy / Health aspects / Humans / Infection / Inflammation / Inflammation - complications / Information processing / Long COVID / Memory / Microbiota / Neurons / Neurophysiology / Patients / Review / Tumor necrosis factor-TNF