The neuropsychological assessment of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and with subjective cognitive complaints was analyzed. The group was compared with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) group without FM.
Retrospective study of 32 patients with FM were evaluated and 86 patients with MCI without FM. A neuropsychological test battery was administered. Results were compared with a control group of MCI (n=86) without FM.
Evidence of MCI was observed in 29 of 32 women with FM, and the neuropsychological pattern showed a major impairment on attention, memory and executive function. When the neuropsychological pattern was compared with the MCI group without FM, we found that patients with FM presented a higher rate of impairment of memory and executive function, and less impairment of the premotor function.
The neuropsychological evaluation showed an MCI in the majority of women with FM with a subjective complaint of memory loss (90,5%). The neuropsychological pattern was predominantly subcortical with impairment of memory and executive function. The sample of patients with FM presented cognitive results similar to the MCI group.