E0 ConsensusModerate confidencePEM ?Review-NarrativePeer-reviewedMachine draft
[Cognitive impairment in asthenic disorders].
Chutko, L S, Surushkina, S Yu, Yakovenko, E A et al. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2025 · DOI
Quick Summary
This review examined research on how chronic fatigue syndrome and related conditions affect thinking and mental processing abilities. The authors looked at different theories about what causes these disorders and found that problems with cognitive control—the brain's ability to focus, plan, and manage mental tasks—may play an important role in how these conditions develop and persist.
Why It Matters
Understanding cognitive impairment in ME/CFS is critical because 'brain fog' significantly impacts patients' quality of life and functioning. This review synthesizes evidence about the mechanisms underlying these cognitive problems and evaluates treatment options, potentially informing better clinical management and future research directions.
Observed Findings
- Neurocognitive deficits are documented in both psychogenic asthenia and chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cognitive control impairment appears associated with development and maintenance of asthenic conditions
- Adaptation disorders and asthenic states show relationship to impaired cognitive regulation
- Farmacological interventions have been evaluated for treating asthenic disorders
Inferred Conclusions
- Cognitive control dysfunction is a core mechanism in asthenic disorder pathogenesis
- Neurocognitive assessment should be considered in evaluating and managing asthenic conditions
- Pharmacological approaches may address asthenic symptoms, though comparative effectiveness varies
Remaining Questions
- What are the specific neurobiological mechanisms linking cognitive control impairment to fatigue and asthenic symptoms?
- Which pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions most effectively restore cognitive control in ME/CFS?
- How do cognitive deficits interact with other ME/CFS pathophysiology (immune, metabolic, autonomic)?
What This Study Does Not Prove
As a review article, this work does not present new original research data and cannot establish causal relationships between cognitive control deficits and asthenic symptoms. The review's conclusions depend entirely on the quality and scope of included studies, and publication bias may influence which findings are available to review.
Tags
Symptom:Cognitive DysfunctionFatigue
Method Flag:Weak Case Definition
Metadata
- DOI
- 10.17116/jnevro202512503127
- PMID
- 40195097
- Review status
- Machine draft
- Evidence level
- Established evidence from major reviews, guidelines, or evidence maps
- Last updated
- 8 April 2026