Santamarina-Perez, Pilar, Eiroa-Orosa, Francisco Jose, Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda et al. · Applied neuropsychology. Adult · 2014 · DOI
This study looked at thinking and memory problems in 68 women with ME/CFS using standardized cognitive tests. Researchers found that about half of patients had difficulties with attention and motor skills, while 40% struggled with processing information quickly and with executive functions like planning. The severity of fatigue and emotional factors were linked to some of these cognitive difficulties.
Cognitive dysfunction (often called 'brain fog') is a major symptom affecting ME/CFS patients' quality of life and functionality. This study provides quantitative evidence that cognitive impairment is measurable and linked to disease-specific factors like fatigue severity, suggesting cognitive deficits are rooted in ME/CFS pathophysiology rather than purely psychological causes. Identifying specific cognitive profiles could eventually guide personalized treatment approaches.
This study does not establish causation—only that fatigue and emotional factors are associated with cognitive impairment. It does not explain the underlying biological mechanisms causing cognitive dysfunction. The findings apply only to women and cannot be generalized to male ME/CFS patients, and the lack of comparison with other illnesses limits understanding of whether these patterns are ME/CFS-specific.
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
Santamarina-Perez, Pilar, Eiroa-Orosa, Francisco Jose, Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda, Qureshi, Adil, & Alegre, Jose (2014). Neuropsychological impairment in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a preliminary study.. Applied neuropsychology. Adult. https://doi.org/10.1080/09084282.2013.771264
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-santamarina-perez-2014-neuropsychological-impairment,
author = {Santamarina-Perez, Pilar and Eiroa-Orosa, Francisco Jose and Rodriguez-Urrutia, Amanda and Qureshi, Adil and Alegre, Jose},
title = {Neuropsychological impairment in female patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a preliminary study.},
journal = {Applied neuropsychology. Adult},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1080/09084282.2013.771264},
note = {PubMed: 24826505},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/santamarina-perez-2014-neuropsychological-impairment},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/santamarina-perez-2014-neuropsychological-impairment
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