ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

2420 studies

21–40 of 2,420 studies

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Molecular hydrogen as a treatment for ME/CFS: a mini-review of clinical evidence and mechanistic rationale.

Friedberg, Fred, LeBaron, Tyler W·Frontiers in medicine·2026

This review examines whether hydrogen-rich water might help ME/CFS patients. Hydrogen is a simple molecule that may reduce inflammation and improve energy production in cells—two problems linked to ME/CFS. Early studies show it may help reduce fatigue and improve daily functioning with few side effects, though the research is still very limited.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Immunomodulatory and locomotor regulations via Diosgenin treatment in lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ depressive despair symptom: an in vivo assessment.

Shirole, Rahul Lotan, Khalane, Mohan Rajendra, Nage, Vijayeta Pralhad et al.·Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology·2026

This study tested a natural compound called diosgenin (found in fenugreek) to see if it could help with fatigue and depression-like symptoms in mice given a substance that triggered an immune response similar to what happens in ME/CFS. Mice treated with diosgenin showed improvements in activity levels, reduced fatigue-like behavior, and their brains had less inflammation and stress. The results suggest diosgenin might be worth investigating further as a potential treatment.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Current Concepts and Treatment Options in the Management of Fibromyalgia.

Li, Nathan, Cooper, Joshua, Fleming, Tanisha et al.·Psychopharmacology bulletin·2026

This article reviews what doctors and researchers currently understand about fibromyalgia, a chronic condition causing widespread pain and many other symptoms. While the exact causes remain unclear, scientists are finding potential clues in brain imaging, genes, and gut bacteria. The article explains how doctors diagnose fibromyalgia and what treatment options are available, emphasizing that managing it often requires a team approach with different specialists.

Diagnostics

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Treatment of post-COVID symptoms with auricular vagus nerve stimulation.

Gebetsroither, Patrick, Ettenauer, Thomas, Likar, Rudolf·Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2026

Researchers tested a treatment called auricular vagus nerve stimulation (mild electrical stimulation applied to the ear) in 9 patients with long COVID symptoms. After 4 weeks of treatment, patients reported improvement in 28 out of 35 symptoms they were tracked for, with particular benefits for pain, fatigue, exhaustion after activity, sleep problems, and heart/blood pressure irregularities. Many of these improvements lasted when patients were checked again 12 weeks later.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID as Neuroimmune Disorders.

Blitshteyn, Svetlana, Doherty, Taylor A, Steinman, Lawrence·ImmunoTargets and therapy·2026

This editorial argues that three related conditions—POTS, ME/CFS, and Long COVID—should be understood and studied together as disorders affecting both the nervous system and immune system. The authors identify several common problems in these conditions, including heart rate abnormalities when standing, immune system dysfunction, and reduced blood flow to the brain. They believe treating these as a single category of disease could improve how doctors train, research, and care for patients with these serious illnesses.

NeuroinflammationImmune System

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclearObservational

A Short-Term Pacing Intervention in People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study in Portugal.

Ribeiro, Vânia, Azevedo, Paulo, Westermeier, Francisco et al.·Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2026

Researchers in Portugal tested whether a pacing program could help people with ME/CFS manage their symptoms over 8 weeks. Pacing teaches patients to balance their daily activities based on their available energy. Thirteen patients participated, most attended the sessions regularly, and both fatigue and physical functioning showed improvements after the program.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Physiotherapy management of long COVID in adults.

Nygren-Bonnier, Malin, Holland, Anne E·Journal of physiotherapy·2026

This study examines how physical therapy and rehabilitation approaches can help adults with long COVID manage their symptoms and improve function. The review looks at different physiotherapy strategies that healthcare providers use to treat long COVID patients. Understanding which approaches work best can help patients and doctors make better decisions about treatment options.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Post-COVID neurological sequelae, proposed mechanisms and therapeutic approaches].

Slama Schwok, Anny·Medecine sciences : M/S·2026

This review examines the long-term neurological effects that some people experience after COVID-19 infection, affecting about 5% of patients. The symptoms include brain fog, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and nerve inflammation, which significantly impact daily life. The authors examine the underlying biological mechanisms—such as brain inflammation, disrupted brain chemistry, immune dysfunction, and blood vessel problems—that may cause these symptoms to help guide future treatments.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Immunoglobulin G complexes from post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS disrupt cellular energetics and alter inflammatory marker secretion.

Liu, Zheng, Hollmann, Claudia, Kalanidhi, Sharada et al.·Brain, behavior, & immunity - health·2026

This study found that antibodies (immune proteins) from ME/CFS patients can damage the mitochondria—the energy-producing parts of cells—and change how cells function. Researchers isolated antibodies from ME/CFS patients and added them to healthy cells in the lab, discovering that these antibodies caused changes in cell energy production and inflammation. This suggests that abnormal antibodies may be part of what makes ME/CFS patients feel exhausted and unwell.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

A Continuous Oral Regimen of High-Dose Cromolyn Sodium Is Effective for Some Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Patients With Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

Christoforou, Maritsa E, van Campen, Linda C, Visser, Frans C et al.·Cureus·2026

This study looked at five ME/CFS patients who also had mast cell activation syndrome (a condition where immune cells release too many chemicals). These patients took a medication called cromolyn sodium in higher doses than usual—up to 2400 mg per day instead of the standard 800 mg—by sipping it continuously throughout the day rather than taking four separate doses. All five patients reported improvements in their symptoms.

Interventions

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Contested and neglected: Social and medical marginalization in severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Nezamdoust, Bita, Ruel, Erin·Social science & medicine (1982)·2026

This study listened to people with severe ME/CFS and their caregivers through their social media posts to understand how their condition affects their lives. The researchers found that people with severe ME/CFS face major challenges: they are often not believed by doctors and society, they experience deep isolation, and they struggle to access care and disability support. The study shows that this illness is neglected and that urgent changes are needed to recognize and help this population.

Severe ME

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Reduced Adenosine Triphosphate-to-Phosphocreatine Ratios in Neuropsychiatric Post-COVID Condition: Evidence From 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Weber-Fahr, Wolfgang, Dommke, Sandra, Sack, Markus et al.·Biological psychiatry·2026

This study looked at how the brain produces and uses energy in people with long COVID and cognitive problems. Using a special brain imaging scan, researchers found that people with long COVID have lower energy levels in a part of their brain called the cingulate cortex, and this energy shortage is linked to thinking and memory problems. The findings suggest that problems with how brain cells produce energy may be a key reason why some people experience cognitive difficulties after COVID-19.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Immunosenescence-Driven Hemodynamic Dysregulation and Cognitive Impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Integrative Perspective.

Xu, Huimin, Luo, Yingzhe, Wu, Xi·Comprehensive Physiology·2026

This review examines how ME/CFS may involve aging of the immune system that affects blood flow to the brain, causing cognitive problems like 'brain fog.' The researchers propose that this immune aging triggers chronic inflammation, reduces oxygen delivery to brain cells, and damages the protective barrier around the brain, leading to memory and thinking difficulties. The authors suggest that treatments targeting inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and modulating immune responses could help improve cognition in ME/CFS patients.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM not requiredMethods-Paper

Pipeline-optimized machine learning for chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis: A lightweight, interpretable model using blood biochemical and metabolomic data.

Li, Junrong, Cao, Hanyu, Zhu, Zirun et al.·Computational biology and chemistry·2026

Researchers developed a computer program that uses blood tests to help diagnose ME/CFS more accurately and quickly. The program was trained on data from over 1,100 people with ME/CFS and nearly 67,000 control participants, and it correctly identified ME/CFS in about 94% of cases. This tool could help doctors catch the condition earlier and tailor treatment to individual patients.

Biomarkers

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclear

The lingering shadow of epidemics: post-acute sequelae across history.

Miller, Christine M, Moen, Janna K, Iwasaki, Akiko·Trends in immunology·2026

This review examines how infections throughout history have sometimes led to lasting illnesses similar to Long COVID, including conditions like ME/CFS. The authors show that post-infection syndromes have occurred for over 100 years after various infections (flu, EBV, Lyme disease, and others), suggesting this is not a new phenomenon. They argue that modern tools and technology now give us a better opportunity to understand why some infections trigger these chronic conditions.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Gradual proactive regulation of body state by reinforcement learning of homeostasis.

Fujiwara, Mana, Naoki, Honda·Neuroscience research·2026

Your body naturally tries to keep things like temperature, blood pressure, and blood sugar steady through a process called homeostasis. This study created a computer model showing how your body learns to anticipate and prepare for challenges based on past experience—like how you might shiver before getting cold. The model also shows how problems can cascade through your body when different systems share the same control signals, which may help explain why ME/CFS patients often experience multiple symptoms affecting different body systems at the same time.

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Gulf War Illness: A Historical Review and Considerations of a Post-Viral Syndrome.

Bast, Elizabeth, Jester, Dylan J, Palacio, Ana et al.·Military medicine·2026

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic condition affecting 30-40% of veterans deployed during the 1990-1991 Gulf War, causing fatigue, pain, memory problems, digestive issues, and other symptoms similar to ME/CFS and long COVID. This review examines whether GWI might be caused by a viral infection, similar to how long COVID develops after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors suggest that veterans may have been exposed to a coronavirus related to MERS during their deployment, and they call for more research to explore this possibility.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Fehrer, Annick, Windzio, Lara, Schoening, Simon et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2026

Nearly 4,000 ME/CFS researchers and experts gathered at an international conference in May 2025 to share the latest discoveries about this serious illness. They discussed how ME/CFS develops, better ways to diagnose it, and new treatments being tested. The conference highlighted that while COVID-19 has brought more attention and funding to ME/CFS research, the disease is still not well understood and needs much more study.

Energy MetabolismImmune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM unclearMechanistic

Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.

Ryback, Audrey A, Hillier, Charles B, Loureiro, Camila M et al.·PloS one·2026

Researchers wanted to test whether something in the blood of people with ME/CFS could damage the energy-producing parts of cells (mitochondria) when added to healthy cells in the lab. They tested blood from 67 people with ME/CFS and 53 healthy people on cultured muscle cells and measured how well the cells could use oxygen. Unlike a previous smaller study, they found no difference between the ME/CFS blood and healthy blood samples.

BiomarkersEnergy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Virus-induced endothelial senescence as a cause and driving factor for ME/CFS and long COVID: mediated by a dysfunctional immune system.

Nunes, Massimo, Kell, Loren, Slaghekke, Anouk et al.·Cell death & disease·2026

This study proposes that ME/CFS and long COVID may be caused by damage to the blood vessels (endothelial cells) that occurs after a viral infection. When these cells become damaged and 'senescent' (aged), they release harmful substances that cause inflammation, blood clots, and reduced blood flow to the brain and other organs. The study suggests that a faulty immune system keeps these damaged blood vessels from healing, which is why symptoms persist for months or years after the initial infection.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Molecular hydrogen as a treatment for ME/CFS: a mini-review of clinical evidence and mechanistic rationale.

Immunomodulatory and locomotor regulations via Diosgenin treatment in lipopolysaccharide-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/ depressive despair symptom: an in vivo assessment.

Current Concepts and Treatment Options in the Management of Fibromyalgia.

Treatment of post-COVID symptoms with auricular vagus nerve stimulation.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID as Neuroimmune Disorders.

A Short-Term Pacing Intervention in People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Pilot Study in Portugal.

Physiotherapy management of long COVID in adults.

[Post-COVID neurological sequelae, proposed mechanisms and therapeutic approaches].

Immunoglobulin G complexes from post-infectious ME/CFS, including post-COVID ME/CFS disrupt cellular energetics and alter inflammatory marker secretion.

A Continuous Oral Regimen of High-Dose Cromolyn Sodium Is Effective for Some Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Patients With Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

Contested and neglected: Social and medical marginalization in severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Reduced Adenosine Triphosphate-to-Phosphocreatine Ratios in Neuropsychiatric Post-COVID Condition: Evidence From 31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Immunosenescence-Driven Hemodynamic Dysregulation and Cognitive Impairment in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: An Integrative Perspective.

Pipeline-optimized machine learning for chronic fatigue syndrome diagnosis: A lightweight, interpretable model using blood biochemical and metabolomic data.

The lingering shadow of epidemics: post-acute sequelae across history.

Gradual proactive regulation of body state by reinforcement learning of homeostasis.

Gulf War Illness: A Historical Review and Considerations of a Post-Viral Syndrome.

Expert perspectives on Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome - Insights from the 3rd International Conference of the Charité Fatigue Center.

Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.

Virus-induced endothelial senescence as a cause and driving factor for ME/CFS and long COVID: mediated by a dysfunctional immune system.

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