ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

1421–1440 of 6,157 studies

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Experiences of carers of youth, adult children and spouses with ME/CFS.

Baken, Don M, Ross, Kirsty J, Hodges, Lynette D et al.·Chronic illness·2023

This study looked at how caring for someone with ME/CFS affects family members and close caregivers across different life stages—parents of young people with ME/CFS, adult children caring for parents, and spouses. Researchers surveyed 36 carers about their experiences and found two major challenges: lack of knowledge about the condition and its wide-ranging impact on their lives. While many experiences were shared across all groups, carers of young people faced particular struggles with providing care without clear guidance, while carers of adults and spouses worried most about what the future would hold.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Briese, Thomas, Tokarz, Rafal, Bateman, Lucinda et al.·Journal of medical virology·2023

Researchers looked for viruses in blood, saliva, and stool samples from ME/CFS patients and compared them to healthy people. They used advanced testing methods to search for viral genetic material but found no consistent differences between the two groups, except that ME/CFS patients had fewer anelloviruses (a common, typically harmless virus). This suggests that if viruses play a role in ME/CFS, the problem may not be the presence of the virus itself, but rather how the body's immune system responds to it.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Pediatric Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Jason, Leonard A, Johnson, Madeline, Torres, Chelsea·Fatigue : biomedicine, health & behavior·2023

This study compared young people recovering from long COVID (PASC) with young people who have ME/CFS to understand how their symptoms differ. Researchers asked 19 parents about their child's symptoms during initial COVID infection and again later, then compared these to 19 young people with ME/CFS. Most PASC symptoms improved over time, but fatigue and sleep problems stayed high—similar to what ME/CFS patients experience.

SleepPost-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Urine Metabolite Analysis to Identify Pathomechanisms of Long COVID: A Pilot Study.

Taenzer, Maja, Löffler-Ragg, Judith, Schroll, Andrea et al.·International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR·2023

This study examined urine samples from people with Long COVID and ME/CFS to look for chemical imbalances that might explain their symptoms. Researchers found that both groups had lower levels of certain amino acids and neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) compared to healthy people, particularly affecting energy production, mood, and sleep. These chemical signatures could potentially be used as simple urine tests to help doctors understand what is happening in patients and create personalized treatments.

SleepAutonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in Norway: Symptom Burden and Access to Care.

Sommerfelt, Kristian, Schei, Trude, Angelsen, Arild·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This Norwegian study surveyed 491 patients with severe ME/CFS and their family caregivers to understand how the disease affects their daily lives and what support they receive. The researchers found that the most severely ill patients are often completely bedridden, unable to speak, and experience severe symptom flare-ups from even minimal activity or sensory stimulation. Many patients and caregivers reported that healthcare services were inadequate or sometimes made symptoms worse, though some found help from occupational therapists and family doctors useful.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Synbiotic Supplementation Improves Quality of Life and Inmunoneuroendocrine Response in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Influence of Codiagnosis with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Hinchado, María Dolores, Quero-Calero, Carmen Daniela, Otero, Eduardo et al.·Nutrients·2023

This study tested whether a probiotic supplement (containing beneficial bacteria) could help women with fibromyalgia, especially those who also had ME/CFS. After one month of taking the supplement, participants reported feeling less stressed, anxious, and depressed, and their quality of life improved. The supplement also appeared to help their body's stress response system work better.

Immune System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

A Quick and Practical Approach to Secure a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis: The Novel Functional Limitation Index.

Corbalán, Juan Antonio, Feltes, Gisela, Silva, Daniela et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

Researchers developed a simple test called the Functional Limitation Index (FLI) to help doctors diagnose ME/CFS more quickly and objectively. The test uses measurements from exercise testing and breathing tests to identify how much a person's physical function is impaired. In their study, the FLI successfully distinguished ME/CFS patients from healthy people and athletes with high accuracy.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Developing a Blood Cell-Based Diagnostic Test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Xu, Jiabao, Lodge, Tiffany, Kingdon, Caroline et al.·Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2023

Researchers used a new technology called Raman spectroscopy combined with artificial intelligence to analyze blood cells from ME/CFS patients and healthy people. The test was able to correctly identify ME/CFS patients about 91% of the time and could even distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe cases with 84% accuracy. This could eventually help doctors diagnose ME/CFS with a simple blood test instead of relying only on patient symptoms.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredLongitudinal

Single and repeated high-level blast, low-level blast, and new-onset self-reported health conditions in the U.S. Millennium Cohort Study: An exploratory investigation.

Belding, Jennifer N, Kolaja, Claire A, Rull, Rudolph P et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2023

This study followed a large group of U.S. military personnel and veterans to investigate whether exposure to blast pressure—both from single or repeated high-level blasts and occupational low-level blast exposure—was associated with new health diagnoses. Researchers found that blast exposure was linked to several conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, PTSD, hearing loss, depression, and nerve damage. The study suggests that repeated blast exposure may carry greater health risks than single exposure, and that combinations of different blast exposures may increase risks further.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredCross-Sectional

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and COVID-19: is there a connection?

AlMuhaissen, Suha, Abu Libdeh, Amal, ElKhatib, Yara et al.·Current medical research and opinion·2023

This study looked at whether people who had COVID-19 might develop ME/CFS afterward. Researchers asked 437 people who had COVID-19 questions based on the official diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS. They found that about 8% of COVID-19 patients met the criteria for ME/CFS, suggesting there may be a connection between the two illnesses.

Diagnostics

E2 ModerateCohortPEM requiredLongitudinal

Long-term health outcomes of Q-fever fatigue syndrome patients.

Spronk, Inge, Brus, Iris M, de Groot, Annemieke et al.·Epidemiology and infection·2023

This study followed 368 people who developed fatigue and other health problems after Q-fever infection and checked in with them over 10+ years later. Patients reported numerous ongoing complaints, significantly reduced quality of life, severe fatigue, and worsening symptoms after physical activity. Younger and middle-aged patients experienced worse health outcomes than older patients, suggesting that age may affect how Q-fever fatigue syndrome impacts long-term health.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

Investigating brain cortical activity in patients with post-COVID-19 brain fog.

Wojcik, Grzegorz M, Shriki, Oren, Kwasniewicz, Lukasz et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

This study looked at brain electrical activity in people who had COVID-19 and experienced 'brain fog'—persistent mental cloudiness that can last several months. Researchers compared three groups using advanced brain scans while people performed thinking tasks, and used computer algorithms to see if they could distinguish between those with brain fog, those without it, and healthy controls. They found measurable differences in brain activity patterns between the groups, suggesting brain fog has a detectable physical basis in the brain.

Cognitive Impairment

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearObservational

Exercise intolerance associated with impaired oxygen extraction in patients with long COVID.

Norweg, Anna, Yao, Lanqiu, Barbuto, Scott et al.·Respiratory physiology & neurobiology·2023

This study looked at why people with long COVID struggle with exercise. Researchers tested 59 patients using a standard exercise test and found that their bodies were not extracting and using oxygen efficiently during activity. The patients also showed an unusual heart rate response during exercise. These findings suggest that problems with how the body produces and uses energy may be a key reason why long COVID patients experience fatigue and feel worse after exertion.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Adults with ME/CFS report surprisingly high rates of youth symptoms: A qualitative analysis of patient blog commentary.

Johnson, Madeline, Torres, Chelsea, Watts-Rich, Halli et al.·Work (Reading, Mass.)·2023

This study asked adults with ME/CFS about whether they experienced symptoms during childhood. Researchers analyzed comments from patients on a popular blog forum and found that about 43% of adults reported having ME/CFS before age 18. The study identified common themes in patients' stories, including mental health struggles, family history of illness, feeling misunderstood by others, and difficulties at school.

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Autoimmune gene expression profiling of fingerstick whole blood in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Wang, Zheng, Waldman, Michelle F, Basavanhally, Tara J et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2022

Researchers tested blood samples from 166 ME/CFS patients and 83 healthy people to look for immune system clues that might explain the disease. They found that six specific genes related to immune function were more active in patients with severe, bedridden ME/CFS compared to those with milder disease. The study suggests these genes could potentially be used as biomarkers to identify how severe someone's ME/CFS is and might point toward new treatments.

BiomarkersImmune System

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 unclearCase-Control

Orthostatic Intolerance in Long-Haul COVID after SARS-CoV-2: A Case-Control Comparison with Post-EBV and Insidious-Onset Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

van Campen, C Linda M C, Visser, Frans C·Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study compared patients with long-haul COVID to two groups of ME/CFS patients (those who got sick after Epstein-Barr virus infection and those who became ill gradually) to understand a common symptom called orthostatic intolerance—dizziness or fainting when standing up. Researchers found that long-haul COVID patients had similar symptoms and physical responses to standing as ME/CFS patients, and all three groups showed comparable problems with blood flow and heart function during the standing test. The findings suggest that long-haul COVID and ME/CFS may be essentially the same underlying condition.

Autonomic Nervous System

E2 ModerateCohortPEM unclearCross-Sectional

Differences in Symptoms among Black and White Patients with ME/CFS.

Jason, Leonard A, Torres, Chelsea·Journal of clinical medicine·2022

This study looked at whether ME/CFS symptoms differ between Black and White patients. Researchers compared 19 Black patients with ME/CFS to White patients with ME/CFS and healthy people without the condition. They found that ME/CFS patients had notably different symptoms compared to healthy controls, but Black and White ME/CFS patients reported very similar symptom patterns.

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 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.

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Experiences of carers of youth, adult children and spouses with ME/CFS.

A multicenter virome analysis of blood, feces, and saliva in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Pediatric Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Urine Metabolite Analysis to Identify Pathomechanisms of Long COVID: A Pilot Study.

Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ME/CFS in Norway: Symptom Burden and Access to Care.

Synbiotic Supplementation Improves Quality of Life and Inmunoneuroendocrine Response in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Influence of Codiagnosis with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

A Quick and Practical Approach to Secure a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Diagnosis: The Novel Functional Limitation Index.

Developing a Blood Cell-Based Diagnostic Test for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.

Single and repeated high-level blast, low-level blast, and new-onset self-reported health conditions in the U.S. Millennium Cohort Study: An exploratory investigation.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and COVID-19: is there a connection?

Long-term health outcomes of Q-fever fatigue syndrome patients.

Investigating brain cortical activity in patients with post-COVID-19 brain fog.

Exercise intolerance associated with impaired oxygen extraction in patients with long COVID.

Adults with ME/CFS report surprisingly high rates of youth symptoms: A qualitative analysis of patient blog commentary.

Autoimmune gene expression profiling of fingerstick whole blood in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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

Orthostatic Intolerance in Long-Haul COVID after SARS-CoV-2: A Case-Control Comparison with Post-EBV and Insidious-Onset Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients.

Differences in Symptoms among Black and White Patients with ME/CFS.

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

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

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