Search and filter 6,145 studies by evidence level, diagnostic criteria, PEM status, and research domain. Each entry links to the original source.
Studies sorted by evidence level, then year. Browse by topic instead →
Evidence level (E0–E3) reflects study type and replication, not methodological quality. A weak systematic review still sits at E0. How evidence levels work →
1401–1420 of 2,420 studies
Donalek, Julie G·Nursing research·2009
This study interviewed 8 parents with ME/CFS and their family members to understand how the illness affects everyone at home. Families described struggling to get a diagnosis, dealing with changed roles and responsibilities, losing income, feeling isolated, and trying to maintain normal family life despite ongoing uncertainty about the illness.
Puri, B K, Agour, M, Gunatilake, K D R et al.·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·2009
This study used brain imaging to measure levels of a protective molecule called glutathione in the brains of people with ME/CFS. Researchers had expected glutathione levels to be lower in ME/CFS patients because it was reduced in their blood, but surprisingly, the brain levels were similar between patients and healthy controls. The study found no evidence that taking glutathione supplements would help with ME/CFS brain-related symptoms.
Avellaneda Fernández, Alfredo, Pérez Martín, Alvaro, Izquierdo Martínez, Maravillas et al.·BMC psychiatry·2009
ME/CFS is a serious condition marked by extreme exhaustion that lasts at least six months and doesn't improve with rest. The fatigue is so severe that it can force people to reduce their daily activities by half or more. Doctors don't yet have a single test to diagnose it, so they diagnose it by ruling out other illnesses. There is currently no cure, but treatment works best when doctors, mental health professionals, and social support services work together to help patients.
Huang, Lung-Cheng, Hsu, Sen-Yen, Lin, Eugene·Journal of translational medicine·2009
Researchers used computer algorithms to analyze genetic variations (called SNPs) in people with ME/CFS to see if they could predict who has the disease. They tested different mathematical approaches to find the most important genes linked to ME/CFS. Their best-performing method combined a technique called naive Bayes with a process that identified the most relevant genetic markers, suggesting this approach could help identify genetic patterns in ME/CFS.
Lee, Eunjee, Cho, Seoae, Kim, Kyunga et al.·Genomics·2009
Researchers developed a new method to find which genes might cause ME/CFS by combining three types of medical data: genetic variations people are born with, how active those genes are in the body, and whether someone has the disease. When they tested this method on ME/CFS patients, they found that certain genes—especially one called NR3C1—appear to influence disease risk, and that patients with ME/CFS plus depression may have different genetic causes than those with ME/CFS alone.
Sakudo, Akikazu, Kuratsune, Hirohiko, Kato, Yukiko Hakariya et al.·Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2009
Researchers used a special infrared scanner to examine fingernails from people with ME/CFS and compared them to healthy people's nails. They found that the proteins in ME/CFS patients' nails had different structures—specifically, the nails showed less of a protein structure called alpha-helix and more of a structure called beta-sheet. This suggests that ME/CFS may cause measurable changes in nail composition that could potentially be detected with this scanning technology.
Gordon, Brett, Lubitz, Lionel·Journal of paediatrics and child health·2009
This study looked at 16 teenagers with ME/CFS who participated in a 4-week inpatient program that included carefully supervised exercise training tailored to each person's abilities. Teenagers who completed the program showed improvements in physical fitness (18% longer time before fatigue, 17% better oxygen uptake), strength (70% more push-ups), fatigue severity (13% improvement), and depression symptoms (42% improvement). These improvements helped many teenagers return to school, social activities, and family life.
Lyle, Nazmun, Gomes, Antony, Sur, Tapas et al.·Behavioural brain research·2009
Researchers used rats to test whether an herbal extract from Nardostachys jatamansi (a plant used in traditional medicine) could help with fatigue-like symptoms and stress. Rats that were forced to swim daily for three weeks developed behaviors similar to depression and anxiety, along with signs of cellular damage from oxidative stress. The herbal extract appeared to reduce these symptoms and restore balance to the rats' stress-fighting systems.
Frykholm, B O·Medical hypotheses·2009
This small pilot study tested whether antibiotics could help patients with severe psychiatric symptoms and ME/CFS, based on the idea that certain bacteria might be involved in these conditions. Two ME/CFS patients received 60 days of antibiotics combined with vitamin B injections; one reported complete recovery and one reported significant improvement at the one-year follow-up.
Kuo, Yao-Haur, Tsai, Wei-Jern, Loke, Soy-Hwee et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2009
This study tested whether a natural plant supplement called Astragalus membranaceus flavonoids (AMF) could help rats with chronic fatigue caused by stress and food restriction. The rats that received AMF showed improvements in immune function, better energy for swimming, and restored normal immune system balance compared to untreated fatigued rats.
Light, Alan R, White, Andrea T, Hughen, Ronald W et al.·The journal of pain·2009
This study examined blood cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people before and after moderate exercise. Researchers found that ME/CFS patients showed much larger changes in genes related to pain sensation, stress response, and immune function after exercise compared to healthy controls. These gene changes lasted from 30 minutes to 2 days and correlated with patients' fatigue and pain symptoms.
Friedberg, Fred, Sohl, Stephanie·Journal of clinical psychology·2009
This study looked at whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—a type of talk therapy combined with gradually increasing physical activity—helped 11 people with ME/CFS feel better. While most patients reported feeling improved, the researchers found something surprising: some patients who felt better had actually increased their activity levels (shown by motion sensors), while others had decreased their activity levels. This suggests that improvement in ME/CFS may not work the same way the standard CBT model predicts.
Li, Haijing, Meng, Shufang, Levine, Susan M et al.·Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology·2009
Researchers developed a new test to detect human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in patient samples, even when the virus is present in very small amounts. The test can also tell the difference between two types of HHV-6 (called variant A and B). When tested on urine samples from people with and without chronic fatigue syndrome, the test successfully detected the virus in a small number of patients.
Lin, Eugene, Hsu, Sen-Yen·Pharmacogenomics·2009
Researchers used advanced statistical methods to look for interactions between genes and between genes and environmental factors (like age, sex, and weight) in ME/CFS patients. They found that a gene called NR3C1 appeared to be involved in patterns that might be related to ME/CFS, and that gender seemed to influence how this gene affected the condition. This suggests that ME/CFS likely develops from a combination of genetic and personal factors rather than from a single cause.
Rybakina, E G, Shanin, S N, Fomicheva, E E et al.·Rossiiskii fiziologicheskii zhurnal imeni I.M. Sechenova·2009
This study used laboratory rats to understand how ME/CFS might develop by triggering an immune response with a synthetic molecule. Researchers found that during this fatigue-like state, immune cells became less active, brain cell communication pathways were dampened, and the body's stress-response system (which normally helps us cope) became less effective. These findings suggest ME/CFS involves problems in how the immune system and brain communicate with each other.
Tian, Hao, Brimmer, Dana J, Lin, Jin-Mann S et al.·Journal of medical Internet research·2009
This study looked at how many people visited the CDC's ME/CFS website over 18 months and what information they searched for. The website received millions of visits from around the world, showing that many people are looking for reliable information about ME/CFS. The researchers found that a public awareness campaign successfully brought more visitors to the site, and that people were more interested in professional medical information after the campaign ended.
Exley, Christopher, Swarbrick, Louise, Gherardi, Rhomain K et al.·Medical hypotheses·2009
This study describes one patient who developed both chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and a muscle condition called macrophagic myofasciitis after receiving vaccines containing aluminum adjuvants, and who also had high levels of aluminum in their body. The researchers propose that aluminum accumulation from vaccines might trigger immune system problems that lead to these conditions. This is a single case report rather than a broad study of many patients.
Chew-Graham, Carolyn, Dixon, Rebecca, Shaw, Jonathan W et al.·BMC nursing·2009
This study asked 29 practice nurses (nurses who work in doctor's offices) about their understanding and views of ME/CFS. The researchers found that most nurses knew very little about ME/CFS, had not received formal training, and some held negative attitudes toward the condition. While nurses thought they could help manage ME/CFS patients, they often didn't understand the best evidence-based treatments available.
Armitage, Roseanne, Landis, Carol, Hoffmann, Robert et al.·Journal of psychosomatic research·2009
Researchers compared brain wave patterns during sleep between identical twins where one had ME/CFS and one did not. They found no significant differences in the electrical activity of the brain during sleep between the sick and healthy twins, even though those with ME/CFS reported more sleep problems. This suggests that genetic factors may influence sleep patterns more strongly than the illness itself.
Gupta, Amit, Vij, Garima, Sharma, Sameer et al.·Immunobiology·2009
This study tested whether curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, could help reduce fatigue in mice infected with bacteria-like substances. Mice treated with curcumin showed less fatigue behavior and had lower levels of inflammation markers compared to untreated mice. The results suggest curcumin might be worth exploring as a potential treatment for ME/CFS.
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Thematic groupings by clinical question or research area.
PET imaging and other studies providing evidence for brain inflammation in ME/CFS.
NeurologyMetabolomics and mitochondrial function studies revealing energy metabolism disruption.
MetabolismStudies identifying potential biological markers for ME/CFS diagnosis and stratification.
Biomarker