ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2782 studies

481–500 of 2,782 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in young adults: Mental fatigue and decreased cognitive flexibility.

Sedat, Yasin, Erman, Altunisik, Yasemin, Firat Ekmekyapar·Ideggyogyaszati szemle·2023

This study looked at young adults who had COVID-19 and compared them to those who hadn't. Researchers found that people who had COVID-19 reported more mental fatigue (difficulty concentrating and feeling mentally tired) and had more trouble switching between different tasks. These problems lasted long after the initial infection, suggesting COVID-19 may have lasting effects on how the brain works.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Regional gray matter volume correlates to physical and mental fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults.

Putra, Handityo Aulia, Park, Kaechang, Yamashita, Fumio et al.·Neuroimage. Reports·2022

Researchers used brain scans to examine whether the size of certain brain regions relates to how tired people feel, both physically and mentally. In a large group of nearly 1,900 healthy middle-aged adults, they found that specific brain areas showed different sizes depending on fatigue levels—some areas were smaller in people reporting more fatigue, while others were larger. This suggests that brain structure may be connected to how tired we feel, even before someone develops a condition like ME/CFS.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

How mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could lead to the increasing risks of chronic fatigue syndrome and the potential immunological effects: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Yang, Tse-Yen, Lin, Cheng-Li, Yao, Wei-Cheng et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study found that people who have had a tuberculosis infection are about 23% more likely to develop ME/CFS than people who have never had tuberculosis. Researchers in Taiwan tracked over 38,000 people for about 10 years and noticed that tuberculosis and ME/CFS share similar symptoms and immune system patterns. The link was especially strong in men and in people aged 65 and older.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

Busatto, Geraldo F, de Araujo, Adriana Ladeira, Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio et al.·Psychological medicine·2022

Researchers studied 749 people who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 and assessed them 6-11 months later. They found that 30 different symptoms—including fatigue, brain fog, depression, and anxiety—tend to occur together as part of one underlying condition. People with more severe symptoms also showed signs of ongoing inflammation in their blood and had greater physical disability, suggesting a real biological basis for their illness.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Araja, Diana, Krumina, Angelika, Nora-Krukle, Zaiga et al.·Vaccines·2022

Researchers analyzed publicly available European vaccine safety reports to see which health problems were most commonly reported after COVID-19 vaccination. They found that the most frequently reported issues involved general symptoms (like injection site reactions and fever), nervous system problems (like headaches), and muscle/joint pain. The study notes that while ME/CFS wasn't specifically tracked in the database, reports of chronic fatigue syndrome were present and could be studied.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Subjective and objective cognitive function in adolescent with chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Øie, Merete Glenne, Rødø, Astrid Sofie Buer, Bølgen, Maria Sletten et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2022

This study followed 195 teenagers who had Epstein-Barr virus infection for six months to see if they developed persistent fatigue and cognitive problems. While teenagers with ongoing fatigue reported much more trouble with thinking and memory than healthy teenagers, standard cognitive tests showed no actual differences in their thinking abilities. This suggests that cognitive difficulties in ME/CFS may feel very real to patients but are not always detectable by traditional testing methods.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not required

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Johnson, Madeline L, Cotler, Joseph, Terman, Julia M et al.·Death studies·2022

This study looked at 64 people with ME/CFS to understand why some experience suicidal thoughts, with 17 having died by suicide. Researchers found that people who identified as having CFS (rather than ME), those with severe functional limitations, and those without other medical conditions were at higher risk. The study suggests that stigma around the illness and difficulty accessing care and support may contribute to these serious mental health risks.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Intersections between pneumonia, lowered oxygen saturation percentage and immune activation mediate depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms due to COVID-19: A nomothetic network approach.

Al-Jassas, Hawraa Kadhem, Al-Hakeim, Hussein Kadhem, Maes, Michael·Journal of affective disorders·2022

This study examined 60 COVID-19 patients and 30 healthy controls to understand why some people develop depression, anxiety, and fatigue-like symptoms after COVID-19 infection. The researchers found that lung damage (seen on CT scans), low oxygen levels, and an overactive immune response are connected to these mental health and fatigue symptoms. Essentially, the physical damage to the lungs may trigger immune system activation, which then leads to depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Barnden, Leighton, Crouch, Benjamin, Kwiatek, Richard et al.·Brain sciences·2022

This study looked at brain scans from people with ME/CFS and healthy people to understand how the brain protects and maintains nerve fibers (myelin). Researchers found that healthy people show a balancing pattern: when one part of the brain has less myelin coverage, another part compensates by having more. The study suggests this balance may be disrupted in ME/CFS, which could contribute to symptom severity.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

Azcue, N, Gómez-Esteban, J C, Acera, M et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study compared brain fog and fatigue symptoms in people with ME/CFS and those recovering from COVID-19 to see if they might be the same condition triggered by different causes. Both groups showed similar problems with fatigue, sleep, and muscle pain, but people with ME/CFS had more severe cognitive difficulties like trouble concentrating and processing information. Interestingly, loss of smell that lasted a long time in COVID-19 patients appeared connected to their cognitive problems.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

The psychological features of distinct somatic syndromes: A cluster analysis according to population-based somatic symptom profiles in Taiwan.

Huang, Wei-Lieh, Chang, Shu-Sen, Liao, Shih-Cheng·Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi·2022

This study looked at whether different types of physical symptoms (like fatigue, pain, digestive problems, and heart-related symptoms) represent separate conditions or are all part of one bigger syndrome. Researchers analyzed survey data from 550 people in Taiwan and found that people tend to cluster into four different groups based on their symptom patterns, and each group had different levels of depression, anxiety, and health worry.

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

Smakowski, Abigail, Adamson, James, Turner, Tracey et al.·Disability and rehabilitation·2022

This study looked at how graded exercise therapy (gradually increasing physical activity) helped ME/CFS patients who were treated at a specialist clinic in London. Researchers tracked patients' fatigue levels, physical ability, and ability to work and socialize over the course of treatment. The results showed that patients improved significantly, with fatigue decreasing and daily functioning improving by the end of treatment.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Wright, Jack, Astill, Sarah L, Sivan, Manoj·International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

This study asked 477 people with Long COVID about their physical activity levels before and after illness, and how exercise affected their symptoms. Participants were much less active after getting Long COVID and needed more help with daily tasks. Most people (about 75%) reported that physical activity made their symptoms worse, while only about 1% said it improved them.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Altered Effective Connectivity of Resting-State Networks by Tai Chi Chuan in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients: A Multivariate Granger Causality Study.

Li, Yuanyuan, Wu, Kang, Hu, Xiaojie et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This study looked at how a traditional Chinese exercise called Tai Chi Chuan affects the brain in ME/CFS patients. Using brain imaging, researchers found that ME/CFS patients had weaker communication between two important brain networks compared to healthy people. After just one month of Tai Chi Chuan training, this brain communication improved, and patients reported better quality of life, especially with less pain and better physical function.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Abdullah, L, Ferguson, S, Niedospial, D et al.·Harmful algae·2022

Researchers studied whether harmful algal blooms caused by Karenia brevis (a type of seaweed) in Florida's Gulf waters trigger respiratory symptoms, headaches, and nerve-related illness symptoms in people living nearby. They surveyed 258 residents in five coastal counties and found a clear link: when blooms were stronger, more people reported these symptoms. People with previous diagnoses of migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, or memory problems were more likely to report these symptoms during blooms.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

Long-term neuromuscular consequences of SARS-Cov-2 and their similarities with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: results of the retrospective CoLGEM study.

Retornaz, Frédérique, Rebaudet, Stanislas, Stavris, Chloé et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study found that long-COVID patients and ME/CFS patients have very similar symptoms and muscle problems. Researchers measured electrical activity in leg muscles during and after exercise in both groups and found comparable patterns of muscle fatigue. This suggests that COVID-19 infection may trigger ME/CFS-like illness in some people.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Activity monitoring and patient-reported outcome measures in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

Rekeland, Ingrid G, Sørland, Kari, Bruland, Ove et al.·PloS one·2022

This study tracked 27 ME/CFS patients for six months using Fitbit activity monitors and questionnaires to understand how symptoms vary day-to-day and whether activity data matches what patients report. Researchers found that people with milder disease had larger swings in their activity levels week-to-week, while those with severe disease stayed consistently low. Activity monitoring proved feasible and useful as a tool alongside patient surveys.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredObservational

A 2-day cardiopulmonary exercise test in chronic fatigue syndrome patients who were exposed to humidifier disinfectants.

Leem, Jong-Han, Jeon, Hyoung-Eun, Nam, Hun et al.·Environmental analysis, health and toxicology·2022

This study tested whether a special two-day exercise test could detect post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after physical activity—in people with ME/CFS who had been exposed to humidifier disinfectants. The researchers had 29 participants complete an exercise test, rest for 24 hours, then repeat it. They found that performance noticeably declined on the second day, showing that PEM is real and measurable.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredObservational

Neurological Involvement in COVID-19 Among Non-Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults.

Havdal, Lise Beier, Berven, Lise Lund, Selvakumar, Joel et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2022

This study looked at young people (ages 12-25) who had COVID-19 but were not hospitalized, comparing them to people who didn't have COVID-19. Researchers found that COVID-19 patients reported more fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM)—a worsening of symptoms after physical activity—and had slightly elevated markers of brain injury in their blood. However, their thinking and memory abilities tested normally, and the blood markers didn't directly correlate with their symptoms.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateBehavioralPEM not requiredCase-Control

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

Leong, Kam-Hang, Yip, Hei-Tung, Kuo, Chien-Feng et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

This study looked at over 12,000 people in Taiwan with ME/CFS and compared them to an equal number of similar people without the condition. Researchers found that people with ME/CFS are much more likely to also have depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and certain other illnesses like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The study also found that doctors commonly prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, pain relievers, and recommended exercise and therapy—treatments that earlier research suggested might help with ME/CFS symptoms.

Interventions

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Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in young adults: Mental fatigue and decreased cognitive flexibility.

Regional gray matter volume correlates to physical and mental fatigue in healthy middle-aged adults.

How mycobacterium tuberculosis infection could lead to the increasing risks of chronic fatigue syndrome and the potential immunological effects: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: relationship of central nervous system manifestations with physical disability and systemic inflammation.

Vaccine Vigilance System: Considerations on the Effectiveness of Vigilance Data Use in COVID-19 Vaccination.

Subjective and objective cognitive function in adolescent with chronic fatigue following Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Risk factors for suicide in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Intersections between pneumonia, lowered oxygen saturation percentage and immune activation mediate depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome-like symptoms due to COVID-19: A nomothetic network approach.

Anti-Correlated Myelin-Sensitive MRI Levels in Humans Consistent with a Subcortical to Sensorimotor Regulatory Process-Multi-Cohort Multi-Modal Evidence.

Brain fog of post-COVID-19 condition and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, same medical disorder?

The psychological features of distinct somatic syndromes: A cluster analysis according to population-based somatic symptom profiles in Taiwan.

Graded exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in secondary care - a benchmarking study.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Altered Effective Connectivity of Resting-State Networks by Tai Chi Chuan in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients: A Multivariate Granger Causality Study.

Exposure-response relationship between K. brevis blooms and reporting of upper respiratory and neurotoxin-associated symptoms.

Long-term neuromuscular consequences of SARS-Cov-2 and their similarities with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: results of the retrospective CoLGEM study.

Activity monitoring and patient-reported outcome measures in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

A 2-day cardiopulmonary exercise test in chronic fatigue syndrome patients who were exposed to humidifier disinfectants.

Neurological Involvement in COVID-19 Among Non-Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults.

Treatments of chronic fatigue syndrome and its debilitating comorbidities: a 12-year population-based study.

Curated Collections

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Biomarkers

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