My cognitive issues had a very steep decline while I was in a very high-stress situation for several years. But then they rebounded considerably after a number of years passed. Dementia doesn't do that.

Your doctors may be underestimating the toll ME/CFS can take on a person's mental faculties and mistaking it for Alzheimer's. Many of the doctors I've encountered locally were so totally ignorant about ME/CFS that they thought that the only symptom was "a little tiredness".

Don't be timid with doctors. Quiz them about ME/CFS symptoms to see if they know the right answers. If they don't, I would ditch those Alzheimer's drugs if I were you.

You have a right to medical care by doctors who have at least basic knowledge of common illnesses. If they don't, they are cheating you and they're guilty of malpractice.

Please don't let doctors humble you with their medical degrees. I know of a biologist who needed a medical degree because she wanted to do research involving human subjects. She picked up an M.D. degree after only a year and a half of study.

My brain got really bad when I changed my diet and cut out complex carbs. It's much better now I eat a more balanced diet. I also find cocoa helps a lot with my brain. It also got really bad when I used an electric blanket. When my CFS was at its worst I could not even think in sentences or words. So it could just be CFS and not Alzheimers at all.

If your diet has not changed, have you increased your physical activity? If so could be that your body is taking energy from your brain to compensate.

Stress is also bad for brain fog as is lack of sleep. I agree with Richie that the doctor might be underestimating the impact of CFS on your brain. More drugs sounds like a bad idea if this is the case.

I hope you find some answers soon.

I've been ill for about ten years, so I can't compare our experiences. I've experienced a decline that waxes and wanes. I also help you get answers soon. Hugs.

I've had CFS for over 20 years. I think that during times of high-stress, my cognitive ability has suffered. Overall, I believe it is declining, particularly in the past few years. I struggle not to spill things. I often stutter and have difficulty thinking of common words. I do empathize with you greatly in your suffering. I would agree with Richie that you try to get the doctors to really focus on what is CFS related and what might be Alzheimer's. I hope they could tell the difference because the approach might change due to what is causing the cognitive decline. I am so terribly sorry. I know how hard it is to face up to this kind of issue. Just remember that this illness cannot take away who you are inside. No matter what it may steal from you, it will never take your soul. Press on, dear one.

I think it's very possible that your unusual diet may be interacting with your illness to produce cognitive decline. A low carb diet is very unhealthy according to many reputable nutrition experts. It's a fad diet and like all fad diets it can have very damaging effects on a person's health.

Low carb means you're surviving on protein and fat primarily. This can cause biochemical changes in the body that can damage the kidneys and interfere with neurological functions.

Our bodies evolved on a diet with a balance of carbohydrate, fat, and protein, not some fad diet like low-carb. A low-carb diet puts a lot of stress on metabolic processes and the kidneys.

Mine has declined as well.

I would really listen to what the others are saying so far. Perhaps you could begin adding some complex carbs back into your diet and do that for a month or two before taking meds for Alzheimer's. See if you notice a change. You really deserve to see a Doc who is going to take this very seriously before medicating you. Perhaps seeing a nutritionist to help you wit the diet stuff if it is intimidating or confusing. And perhaps getting a second opinion about your cognitive issues with someone who is more familiar with CFS...
So sorry you are in the midst of this.. I hope you have a friend or family member to help you with this decision making and locating of resources... Godspeed....

Mine has declined, for sure; I struggle with thinkiing, speaking, spelling and finding the right word. That was NEVER me before... My ex-wife once said "you used to be so eloquent; is that Jack still in there? I'd like to speak to him, please."
Nope. That Jack seems to have left the building.

I've had CFS for 17 years. For many years I experienced "brain fog". Then it got worse and when I appealed for disability I had 5 hours of psychological testing. It was spread over several days. The results were appalling. My IQ was 85. I got 1750 on the SATs. My IQ was obviously higher than 85 pre-CFS.
I have a Severe Cognitive Impairment which is exactly like the early stages of Alzheimer's. I'm too exhausted to tell you all the things that I've lost due to this brain deficit.

My cognitive dysfunction is embarrassing and definitely got worse. I forget simple words in mid sentence - people must think me very dim!
I get tongue tied and have started not relaying stories because I know I am going to hit a blank somewhere. It really distresses me.
Apparently coconut oil is wonderful for Alzheimer's - and also for general health and well being. Cook with organic coconut oil and put a spoon in smoothies every day. X