ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

637 studies

261–280 of 637 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Neurological Entity?

Murga Gandasegui, Iñigo, Aranburu Laka, Larraitz, Gargiulo, Pascual-Ángel et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2021

This review examines whether ME/CFS is primarily a neurological disorder by looking at brain imaging studies and tests of the autonomic nervous system (the part that controls automatic body functions like heart rate). The authors found that while brain imaging shows various changes in ME/CFS patients, these changes aren't specific enough to diagnose the condition on their own. However, specialized tests measuring heart rate variability and immune responses show promise as potential biomarkers that could help identify and monitor ME/CFS.

BiomarkersPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Cognitive and emotional variables predicting treatment outcome of cognitive behavior therapies for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A meta-analysis.

Sarter, Lena, Heider, Jens, Kirchner, Lukas et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study looked at 37 research papers about cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy—for people with medically unexplained symptoms. The researchers found that people who worry a lot about their symptoms, have anxiety or mood problems, tend to notice body sensations intensely, or don't believe they can manage their illness tend to get less benefit from CBT. The findings suggest that tailoring CBT to each person's specific concerns might help treatments work better.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Moghimi, Narges, Di Napoli, Mario, Biller, José et al.·Current neurology and neuroscience reports·2021

This review examined what we know about how COVID-19 can affect the nervous system in people who experience long-term symptoms after infection (called PASC or long COVID). The researchers looked at published studies to understand how common these neurological problems are, who is most at risk, why they happen, and how they might be treated. They found that long COVID can range from mild to severely disabling symptoms that last weeks or longer, and that multiple factors—including lingering inflammation, immune system problems, and possible viral effects on the brain—may play a role.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of the neurological symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Carod-Artal, F J, García-Moncó, J C·Neurology perspectives·2021

This review examines long-term symptoms people experience after COVID-19 infection, particularly neurological (brain and nerve-related) symptoms like brain fog, memory problems, headaches, and sleep issues. The authors found that post-COVID-19 syndrome is complex and variable—affecting different people in different ways—and likely involves multiple causes including immune system changes, nerve dysfunction, and possibly persistent viral effects. Because the definition and criteria for post-COVID-19 syndrome remain unclear, reported rates of occurrence vary dramatically, ranging from 2% to 85% depending on the study.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The neurological symptoms of COVID-19: a systematic overview of systematic reviews, comparison with other neurological conditions and implications for healthcare services.

Wildwing, Tamar, Holt, Nicole·Therapeutic advances in chronic disease·2021

This study reviewed 45 existing research papers about neurological symptoms people experience with COVID-19. Researchers found that some COVID-19 patients develop long-lasting symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain that look very similar to ME/CFS and other neurological conditions. The authors suggest that doctors may need better training to recognize and treat these ongoing symptoms, and that healthcare services may need more resources to help patients.

Long COVID Overlap

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

The Quality of Methodological and Reporting in Network Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Yuan, Ting, Xiong, Jun, Wang, Xue et al.·Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM·2021

This study reviewed 29 research papers that used a statistical method called network meta-analysis to compare different acupuncture and moxibustion treatments. The researchers assessed how well these papers were designed and reported their findings. They found that most papers had medium quality, with some having significant gaps in how they explained their methods and results.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredMeta-Analysis

Adverse outcomes in trials of graded exercise therapy for adult patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

White, P D, Etherington, J·Journal of psychosomatic research·2021

This study reviewed 10 previous trials involving 1,279 people to examine whether graded exercise therapy (GET) causes harm in ME/CFS patients. Researchers compared how many people reported feeling much worse, stopped treatment, or dropped out of follow-up appointments between those doing GET and those receiving other treatments. The study found no clear evidence that GET caused more people to report feeling worse than other treatments, though more GET participants did drop out of follow-up appointments.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome: putative pathophysiology, risk factors, and treatments.

Yong, Shin Jie·Infectious diseases (London, England)·2021

This review examines what we know about Long COVID, an illness that affects some people after they recover from COVID-19 infection. The main symptoms are extreme tiredness and breathing difficulties that last for months, along with brain fog, pain, and heart problems. Researchers found that Long COVID may be caused by lasting damage to organs like the lungs and brain, combined with ongoing inflammation in the body.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Yin, Zi-Han, Wang, Lin-Jia, Cheng, Ying et al.·Chinese journal of integrative medicine·2021

Researchers reviewed 10 previous studies that looked at whether acupuncture helps treat ME/CFS. While the studies suggested acupuncture might be safe and helpful, the quality of the evidence was generally weak—meaning we can't be very confident in the results. The researchers found that existing reviews of acupuncture for ME/CFS need to be much better designed before we can trust their conclusions.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of the association between fatigue and cognition in chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Menzies, Victoria, Kelly, Debra L, Yang, Gee S et al.·Chronic illness·2021

This review looked at 10 studies examining whether fatigue and cognitive problems (like brain fog or memory issues) are connected in people with chronic diseases, including ME/CFS. The researchers found that in a few studies, higher fatigue was linked with worse cognitive function, but overall there isn't enough research yet to be certain about this relationship. More studies are needed to understand how fatigue and thinking problems relate to each other.

Cognitive Impairment

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Neuroimaging characteristics of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Shan, Zack Y, Barnden, Leighton R, Kwiatek, Richard A et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study reviewed 63 brain imaging research papers published over 30 years to identify what brain abnormalities are consistently found in ME/CFS patients. Researchers found that ME/CFS is commonly associated with unusual patterns of brain activity during thinking tasks and problems in the brain stem (the part controlling basic body functions). The findings suggest that the brains of people with ME/CFS may not be delivering oxygen and nutrients to active brain areas as efficiently as they should.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Interventions to treat pain in paediatric CFS/ME: a systematic review.

Ascough, Caitlin, King, Hayley, Serafimova, Teona et al.·BMJ paediatrics open·2020

This review looked at whether treatments for ME/CFS in children help reduce pain, which affects about two-thirds of young patients. Researchers searched medical databases for studies measuring pain before and after treatment. They found that most treatment studies didn't even measure pain, and the few that did weren't specifically designed to treat pain—they focused on overall ME/CFS management. The evidence suggests that children who recover from ME/CFS tend to have less pain than those who don't recover.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

A systematic review on the health outcomes associated with non-endocarditis manifestations of chronic Q fever.

Manchal, Naveen, Adegboye, Oyelola A, Eisen, Damon P·European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2020

This study looked at chronic Q fever, a bacterial infection that can cause long-term complications beyond heart valve infections. Researchers found that when chronic Q fever affects bones, blood vessels, or causes abscesses (pockets of infection), patients experience significantly more pain than other forms of the disease. Importantly, the study reviewed existing research to understand how pain and fatigue appear in these less common forms of chronic Q fever.

Pain and Sensitization

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Lim, Eun-Jin, Ahn, Yo-Chan, Jang, Eun-Su et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study looked at 45 research projects involving over 1 million people to estimate how many people have ME/CFS worldwide. The researchers found that about 0.68% of the general population (roughly 1 in 150 people) has ME/CFS, though the number varies depending on who was studied and how the diagnosis was made. Women are about 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have ME/CFS than men.

Diagnostics

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Environmental, Neuro-immune, and Neuro-oxidative Stress Interactions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Bjørklund, Geir, Dadar, Maryam, Pivina, Lyudmila et al.·Molecular neurobiology·2020

This review looked at how ME/CFS develops by examining immune system problems, oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules), infections, and nutritional issues. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS often have changes in their immune cells and proteins, along with signs of cellular damage that could explain fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. The study suggests that treatments targeting oxidative stress and nutrition might help, though more research is needed.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

A systematic review of metabolomic dysregulation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Huth, Teilah Kathryn, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie, Staines, Donald et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2020

Researchers reviewed 11 studies that measured tiny chemical molecules (metabolites) in the blood and urine of ME/CFS patients to see if problems with these chemicals might explain the illness. While they found some patterns—especially with chemicals related to amino acids (building blocks of proteins)—the results were inconsistent across different studies. The researchers concluded that we don't yet have enough evidence that metabolite problems cause ME/CFS.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Lim, Eun-Jin, Son, Chang-Gue·Journal of translational medicine·2020

This study reviewed how ME/CFS has been defined and diagnosed over the past 34 years, examining 25 different case definitions created by researchers. The researchers found that these definitions fall into four main categories and emphasize different key symptoms—some focus on a viral cause, others on inflammation, and some on multiple system problems. Understanding these different approaches helps doctors and patients recognize that ME/CFS is complex and may require more than one way to diagnose it.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Systematic Review of Primary Outcome Measurements for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in Randomized Controlled Trials.

Kim, Do-Young, Lee, Jin-Seok, Son, Chang-Gue·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This study examined how researchers measure treatment effects in ME/CFS clinical trials by reviewing 52 studies published between 1996 and 2020. The researchers found that most trials rely on patient questionnaires asking about fatigue, physical function, and quality of life rather than objective blood tests or physical measurements. Three questionnaires—the SF-36, Checklist Individual Strength, and Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire—were used most often to track whether treatments worked.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Food Implications in Central Sensitization Syndromes.

Aguilar-Aguilar, Elena, Marcos-Pasero, Helena, Ikonomopoulou, Maria P et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2020

This review examined what is known about how food affects three related conditions—fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and multiple chemical sensitivities—that all involve heightened nervous system sensitivity. The authors found that changing diet can help improve quality of life for many patients, but the best approach is personalized and done with help from a dietitian and doctor. They warn against following strict diets without professional guidance.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredMeta-Analysis

Meta-analysis investigating post-exertional malaise between patients and controls.

Brown, Abigail, Jason, Leonard A·Journal of health psychology·2020

This study looked at research from multiple studies to understand how common post-exertional malaise (PEM) is in people with ME/CFS. Post-exertional malaise is when symptoms get worse after physical or mental activity. The researchers found that people with ME/CFS are about 10 times more likely to experience post-exertional malaise than people without the condition, suggesting it is a key feature of ME/CFS.

Post-Exertional Malaise

← Previous Next 20 studies →

Or browse by topic

PEM Immune Neuro Metabolic Biomarkers Severe ME Long COVID Cognitive

Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Neurological Entity?

Cognitive and emotional variables predicting treatment outcome of cognitive behavior therapies for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A meta-analysis.

The Neurological Manifestations of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of the neurological symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

The neurological symptoms of COVID-19: a systematic overview of systematic reviews, comparison with other neurological conditions and implications for healthcare services.

The Quality of Methodological and Reporting in Network Meta-Analysis of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Adverse outcomes in trials of graded exercise therapy for adult patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Long COVID or post-COVID-19 syndrome: putative pathophysiology, risk factors, and treatments.

Acupuncture for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

A systematic review of the association between fatigue and cognition in chronic noncommunicable diseases.

Neuroimaging characteristics of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): a systematic review.

Interventions to treat pain in paediatric CFS/ME: a systematic review.

A systematic review on the health outcomes associated with non-endocarditis manifestations of chronic Q fever.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).

Environmental, Neuro-immune, and Neuro-oxidative Stress Interactions in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A systematic review of metabolomic dysregulation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (CFS/ME/SEID).

Review of case definitions for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Systematic Review of Primary Outcome Measurements for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) in Randomized Controlled Trials.

Food Implications in Central Sensitization Syndromes.

Meta-analysis investigating post-exertional malaise between patients and controls.

Curated Collections

Neuroinflammation Evidence

Metabolism & Mitochondria

Biomarkers

PEM-Specific Research