CFS Cognitive and Neurological Aspects of CFS 2

Question 1

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in CFS most commonly presents as:

Accepted Answer

Orthostatic intolerance with symptoms worsening upon standing

Answer

Orthostatic intolerance—where symptoms worsen when standing upright—is the most common manifestation of autonomic dysfunction in CFS, often accompanied by heart rate changes.

Question 2

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which frequently co-occurs with CFS, is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

A heart rate increase of ≥30 bpm within 10 minutes of standing

Answer

POTS is defined by a heart rate increase of ≥30 bpm within 10 minutes of standing (or ≥40 bpm in adolescents) without a significant drop in blood pressure.

Question 3

Central sensitization, observed in many CFS patients, primarily affects:

Accepted Answer

Pain processing pathways in the central nervous system

Answer

Central sensitization refers to amplification of pain signals within the central nervous system, causing heightened pain perception in CFS patients even without tissue damage.

Question 4

Neuroinflammation research in CFS has primarily implicated which type of brain cells in the inflammatory process?

Accepted Answer

Microglia

Answer

Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, have been found to be activated in CFS neuroinflammation studies, suggesting an ongoing neuroinflammatory process.

Question 5

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis abnormality most commonly found in CFS is:

Accepted Answer

Blunted or reduced cortisol response to stress

Answer

Many CFS patients show a blunted or reduced cortisol response to stress, suggesting HPA axis hypofunction rather than the elevated cortisol typically seen in depression.

CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Practice Test

CFS - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Practice Test

CFS Cognitive and Neurological Aspects of CFS 2