The Impact of a Structured Exercise Programme upon Cognitive Function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.
Paweł Zalewski, Sławomir Kujawski, Malwina Tudorowska, Karl Morten, Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe, Jacek J Klawe, James Strong, Fernando Estévez-López, Modra Murovska, Julia L Newton
Author Information
Paweł Zalewski: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Sławomir Kujawski: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland. ORCID
Malwina Tudorowska: Gizińscy Medical Centre, Kościuszki 16, 85-079 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Karl Morten: Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, The Women Centre, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.
Małgorzata Tafil-Klawe: Department of Human Physiology, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Jacek J Klawe: Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Ergonomics, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
James Strong: Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, The Women Centre, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.
Fernando Estévez-López: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040 Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ORCID
Modra Murovska: Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Riga Stradiņš University, LV-1067 Riga, Latvia. ORCID
Julia L Newton: Institute of Cellular Medicine, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive function disturbance is a frequently described symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). In this study, the effects of a structured exercise programme (SEP) upon cognitive function in ME/CFS patients was examined. METHODS: Out of the 53 ME/CFS patients initiating SEP 34 (64%) completed the 16 week programme. Cognitive function was assessed using a computerized battery test consisting of a Simple Reaction Time (SRT) (repeated three times) and Choice Reaction Time (CRT) measurements, a Visual Attention Test (VAT) and a Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS) assessment. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvement was noted in the third attempt to SRT in reaction time for correct answers, = 0.045, r = 0.24. Moreover, significant improvement was noted in VAT reaction time, number of correct answers and errors committed, = 0.02, omega = 0.03, = 0.007, r = 0.34 and = 0.004, r = 0.35, respectively. Non-significant changes were noted in other cognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of participants were unwilling or unable to complete the exercise programme. ME/CFS patients able to complete the SEP showed improved visual attention both in terms of reaction time and correctness of responses and processing speed of simple visual stimuli.
