Haig-Ferguson, A, Tucker, P, Eaton, N et al. · Archives of disease in childhood · 2009 · DOI
This study looked at 20 children with ME/CFS who had memory and attention problems. Researchers asked the children, their parents, and teachers about these difficulties, and then gave the children a series of tests to measure how well they could focus, remember things, and process information. The children's test scores showed they had real difficulties with attention and memory compared to healthy children their age.
This study provides objective evidence that cognitive impairment in pediatric ME/CFS is measurable and reproducible, not merely subjective complaint. Understanding these specific attention and memory deficits helps explain educational difficulties many children with ME/CFS face, which is crucial for developing appropriate accommodations and support in schools.
This cross-sectional study cannot establish causation or mechanisms underlying cognitive problems in ME/CFS, nor can it determine whether these deficits are disease-specific or shared with other chronic illnesses. The small sample size and lack of control group limit generalizability. The study does not investigate post-exertional malaise as a potential trigger for cognitive worsening.
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
Haig-Ferguson, A, Tucker, P, Eaton, N, Hunt, L, & Crawley, E (2009). Memory and attention problems in children with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalopathy.. Archives of disease in childhood. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2008.143032
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-haig-ferguson-2009-memory-attention,
author = {Haig-Ferguson, A and Tucker, P and Eaton, N and Hunt, L and Crawley, E},
title = {Memory and attention problems in children with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalopathy.},
journal = {Archives of disease in childhood},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1136/adc.2008.143032},
note = {PubMed: 19001478},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/haig-ferguson-2009-memory-attention},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-28. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/haig-ferguson-2009-memory-attention
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