Tucker, Peter, Haig-Ferguson, Andrew, Eaton, Nicola et al. · Clinical child psychology and psychiatry · 2011 · DOI
Children with ME/CFS often experience problems with concentration, attention, and memory—difficulties that go beyond normal tiredness. This study tested children's attention and memory abilities and found they scored lower than expected on tasks involving sustained focus, switching between tasks, and remembering new information. The researchers suggest practical strategies that could help children manage these cognitive challenges in daily life.
Cognitive dysfunction ('brain fog') is a recognized but understudied symptom in pediatric ME/CFS that substantially impacts school performance and quality of life. This study provides objective neuropsychological evidence of attention and memory impairment and offers practical guidance for managing these symptoms, which is valuable for patients, families, and educators seeking evidence-based support strategies.
This observational study does not establish the underlying biological mechanisms causing attention and memory problems in ME/CFS, nor does it compare the severity of cognitive impairment to other chronic conditions. The study does not evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the proposed strategies, and without control groups, it cannot confirm that observed deficits are unique to ME/CFS.
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
Tucker, Peter, Haig-Ferguson, Andrew, Eaton, Nicola, & Crawley, Esther (2011). What to do about attention and memory problems in children with CFS/ME: a neuropsychological approach.. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104511403585
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-tucker-2011-what-about,
author = {Tucker, Peter and Haig-Ferguson, Andrew and Eaton, Nicola and Crawley, Esther},
title = {What to do about attention and memory problems in children with CFS/ME: a neuropsychological approach.},
journal = {Clinical child psychology and psychiatry},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1177/1359104511403585},
note = {PubMed: 21571764},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/tucker-2011-what-about},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-30. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/tucker-2011-what-about
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