Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Hainselin, Mathieu, Gounden, Yannick et al. · Scientific reports · 2022 · DOI
This large review examined research on thinking and memory problems in ME/CFS by looking at 764 studies published over 30 years. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS commonly experience difficulties with memory (especially visual and verbal memory), processing speed when reading, and attention, but their problem-solving and basic mental functions are usually preserved. The study shows that cognitive problems in ME/CFS are real and measurable, though they vary from person to person.
This study provides robust evidence that cognitive impairment in ME/CFS is a measurable neuropsychological phenomenon rather than solely a subjective complaint, validating patient experiences of 'brain fog.' Understanding the specific pattern of cognitive deficits can help clinicians recognize ME/CFS-related cognition problems and guide future research into underlying mechanisms.
This meta-analysis documents associations between ME/CFS and cognitive impairment but does not establish causation or identify the biological mechanisms responsible. The study also cannot determine whether cognitive problems precede ME/CFS onset, worsen with disease severity, or predict treatment outcomes. Heterogeneity across studies means individual patient presentations may differ significantly from group patterns.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi, Hainselin, Mathieu, Gounden, Yannick, Sirbu, Carmen Adella, Sekulic, Slobodan, Lorusso, Lorenzo, et al. (2022). Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04764-w
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-aoun-sebaiti-2022-systematic-review,
author = {Aoun Sebaiti, Mehdi and Hainselin, Mathieu and Gounden, Yannick and Sirbu, Carmen Adella and Sekulic, Slobodan and Lorusso, Lorenzo and Nacul, Luis and Authier, François Jérôme},
title = {Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-021-04764-w},
note = {PubMed: 35140252},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/aoun-sebaiti-2022-systematic-review},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/aoun-sebaiti-2022-systematic-review
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