Meyer, Benedicte, Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong Thuy, Moen, Aurora et al. · PloS one · 2015 · DOI
This study looked at whether differences in a specific gene related to serotonin (a brain chemical) might affect how severe ME/CFS stays in young patients. Researchers found that teenagers with certain versions of this gene had worse physical activity levels and greater disability 30 weeks later compared to those with other versions. This suggests that your genes may play a role in whether your ME/CFS improves or stays the same.
Understanding genetic factors that influence ME/CFS severity and persistence could eventually help identify which patients are at higher risk for prolonged illness and might benefit from personalized treatment approaches. This type of biomarker research provides a foundation for moving beyond one-size-fits-all management strategies in ME/CFS.
This study does not prove that the 5-HTT gene causes CFS or determines who will develop it—only that certain variants may be associated with worse outcomes in those already diagnosed. The observational design cannot establish causation or rule out confounding variables. Results require replication in independent cohorts and validation of the biological mechanism.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Meyer, Benedicte, Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong Thuy, Moen, Aurora, Fagermoen, Even, Sulheim, Dag, Nilsen, Hilde, et al. (2015). Maintenance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Young CFS Patients Is Associated with the 5-HTTLPR and SNP rs25531 A > G Genotype.. PloS one. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0140883
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-meyer-2015-maintenance-chronic,
author = {Meyer, Benedicte and Nguyen, Chinh Bkrong Thuy and Moen, Aurora and Fagermoen, Even and Sulheim, Dag and Nilsen, Hilde and Wyller, Vegard Bruun and Gjerstad, Johannes},
title = {Maintenance of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in Young CFS Patients Is Associated with the 5-HTTLPR and SNP rs25531 A > G Genotype.},
journal = {PloS one},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0140883},
note = {PubMed: 26473596},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/meyer-2015-maintenance-chronic},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-29. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/meyer-2015-maintenance-chronic
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