Cognitive reserve as a protective factor against cognitive impairment in chronic fatigue syndrome 2024 Surendran and Jose

Andy

Andy

Retired committee member
Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by persistent exhaustion and substantial declines in social and psychological functioning. Cognitive impairment (CI) is prevalent in CFS, affecting cognitive domains, such as memory, attention, and information processing. The concept of cognitive reserve (CR), positing that life experiences contribute to resilience against cognitive decline, is relevant in understanding the variability in CI among CFS patients.

This study investigated the relationship between CR and CI in individuals with CFS using standardized measures, 91 participants were assessed for CR and CI. Non-parametric statistical analyses, including Spearman rank correlation, Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis H Test, and ordinal logistic regression were used.

Results revealed a strong negative correlation between CR and CI, suggesting that higher CR is protective against CI in CFS. While gender and age did not significantly influence CR or CI, the severity of CFS was found to be a significant predictor of both variables. Individuals with more severe CFS exhibited lower CR and higher CI, emphasizing the importance of CR in mitigating cognitive decline in this condition.

These findings underscore the protective role of CR against CI in CFS, suggesting potential benefits of interventions aimed at enhancing CR irrespective of gender. Future research should explore strategies to bolster CR as a therapeutic approach for managing CI in CFS more effectively.

Paywall, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23279095.2024.2434557
 
Unfortunately because of the paywall I have no idea how the study measures either CR or CI.

… The concept of cognitive reserve (CR), positing that life experiences contribute to resilience against cognitive decline, is relevant in understanding the variability in CI (cognitive impairment) among CFS patients.
…
Results revealed a strong negative correlation between CR and CI, suggesting that higher CR is protective against CI in CFS…
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I do wonder if it is possible, in real life, to measure the two independently, making any discussion of the relationship between the two meaningless as any measure of one is strongly tied to the other?
 
Peter Trewhitt said:
I do wonder if it is possible, in real life, to measure the two independently, making any discussion of the relationship between the two meaningless as any measure of one is strongly tied to the other?
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I suspect so. Specially as the research seems to have been on diseases like Parkinson's and the dementias, which cause irreparable damage to people's brains.

Using that work to assess cognitive fatiguability and the effects of PEM—which varies according to severity and activity, and doesn't appear to cause any pathology—sounds like measuring penknives with a hygrometer.

Oh, and it's about GET for the brain.
 
I got stuck on the first bit where they define ME/CFS as exhaustion and 'substantial decline in social and psychological functioning'.

Since when has a decline in psychological functioning been a defining feature of ME/CFS?
It reads more like a description of burnout, or of a mental breakdown.
 
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