A landmark study by the US National Institutes of Health confirms that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), is unambiguously biological, with distinct biological differences found in a small group of 17 people who developed ME/CFS after an infection compared to healthy controls. The study reveals that ME/CFS is a systemic disease affecting multiple organ systems, with findings suggesting a physiological focal point for fatigue in this population. While the study has been welcomed, some ME/CFS advocacy groups have questioned certain aspects of the research, and further research is needed to determine if the changes detected in these 17 patients translate to a broader population with ME/CFS.
A major study led by the National Institutes of Health provides a comprehensive look at myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), shedding light on the biological abnormalities affecting the brain, gut, immune system, and autonomic nervous system. The findings refute the notion that the illness is purely psychological and suggest that it is primarily a brain disorder likely triggered by immune dysfunction and changes in the gut microbiome. While the study's small sample size and strict inclusion criteria limit its generalizability, it may pave the way for future research and potential treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and human immunoglobulin.
Dr. Michael J. Stephen discusses the challenges of treating myalgic encephalitis (ME/CFS), a condition with symptoms exacerbated by COVID-19, and shares insights from his conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci. Fauci suggests focusing research on post-COVID patients with strict diagnostic criteria to understand the disease better. Studies indicate potential viral persistence and mitochondrial dysfunction, but no FDA-approved treatments exist yet. With rising COVID cases, the urgency to find solutions grows, but there is hope with ongoing clinical trials and preventive measures like vaccines to reduce the incidence of long COVID.
