ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

301–320 of 380 studies

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM not required

The Potential Role of Hypothalamic Phospholipid Liposomes in the Supportive Therapy of Some Manifestations of Post-COVID-19 Condition: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Brain Fog.

Menichetti, Francesco·Journal of clinical medicine·2023

This article discusses how a treatment called hypothalamic phospholipid liposomes might help with ME/CFS and brain fog symptoms in people with Long COVID. These liposomes are small fatty particles that are already available as a supportive treatment for brain and hormone-related problems. The authors suggest this treatment could be helpful based on how it works and their early clinical experiences, though more rigorous testing is still needed.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Exploring the arcuate fasciculus from a clinical perspective.

Shao, Zhi Ding, Gong, Yu Juan, Ren, Jing et al.·Frontiers in neuroscience·2023

This review summarizes research on the arcuate fasciculus, a bundle of nerve fibers in the brain involved in language and communication. Researchers observed that this brain structure shows changes associated with several conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, though the authors note that different studies report different findings and more research is needed to clarify these associations.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Asthenia, mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction].

Titova, N V, Bezdolny, Yu N, Katunina, E A·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2023

This article discusses asthenia, which is a condition characterized by extreme tiredness that affects daily functioning and productivity. The authors explain that it's important to distinguish between simple chronic tiredness and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and that fatigue can affect both the body and the mind. The article reviews how the brain may be involved in causing fatigue and cognitive problems, and suggests that a combination treatment using specific medications may help patients with fatigue and thinking difficulties.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCross-Sectional

What is brain fog?

McWhirter, Laura, Smyth, Heather, Hoeritzauer, Ingrid et al.·Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry·2023

This study looked at how people describe 'brain fog' by analyzing online discussions on Reddit. Researchers found that brain fog involves many different experiences—trouble remembering things, difficulty concentrating, feeling disconnected from reality, thinking slowly, trouble communicating, and fatigue. Brain fog appeared in discussions about many conditions, with long COVID being the most commonly mentioned cause.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclear

Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Experiences of occupational disruption for adults in Australia.

Bartlett, Chelsea, Hughes, Julie L, Miller, Laura·The British journal of occupational therapy·2022

This Australian study interviewed five people with ME/CFS about how the illness affected their ability to work and participate in daily activities. Participants described losing the ability to do the things that mattered to them—first hobbies and leisure activities, then work, and eventually basic self-care tasks. They also faced challenges from lack of understanding about ME/CFS, financial difficulties, and limited healthcare support.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Cheng, Li, Wang, Fei, Li, Zi-Heng et al.·Journal of ethnopharmacology·2022

This study examined how an ancient Chinese herbal remedy called Suanzaoren Decoction (SZRD) might help improve thinking and memory problems caused by poor sleep. Researchers used computer analysis and laboratory experiments to identify the active ingredients in the herbs and understand how they work in the body, finding that the remedy may work through pathways related to estrogen in the brain.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM).

Baraniuk, James N·Brain sciences·2022

This review examines a brain region called the midbrain and how it might contribute to post-exertional malaise (PEM)—the worsening of symptoms after activity that happens in ME/CFS. When ME/CFS patients did exercise in a study, their midbrain showed increased activity during mental tasks, while Gulf War Illness patients showed the opposite pattern. The authors suggest that problems in this brain region could explain why ME/CFS patients have trouble with energy, sleep, mood, pain, and temperature control, especially after exertion.

Cognitive ImpairmentPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID.

Cardinali, Daniel P, Brown, Gregory M, Pandi-Perumal, Seithikurippu R·Biomolecules·2022

This review examines whether melatonin, a natural hormone that regulates sleep, might help people with long COVID who experience symptoms similar to ME/CFS—such as brain fog, fatigue, and muscle pain. Melatonin has several properties that could potentially help: it reduces inflammation, fights harmful molecules in the body, supports immune function, and protects nerve cells. The authors suggest melatonin might be worth studying further as a treatment for the lingering cognitive and pain symptoms some long COVID patients experience.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Assessment of Hearing and Vestibular Functions in a Post-COVID-19 Patient: A Clinical Case Study.

Andreeva, Irina Germanovna, Gvozdeva, Alisa, Pimenova, Vera et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2022

This study examined one patient who had both long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome. Doctors tested their hearing and balance systems, and found problems with how the brain processes sounds—particularly difficulty with rapid sound changes and understanding speech. Interestingly, the nerve fibers in the skin and eyes were normal, suggesting the problem is in how the brain handles auditory information rather than in damaged nerves. The researchers suggest that this auditory processing difficulty may add extra strain to the nervous system and worsen fatigue during daily activities.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Stress, Asthenia, and Cognitive Disorders.

Vasenina, E E, Gankina, O A, Levin, O S·Neuroscience and behavioral physiology·2022

This article explores the connection between extreme tiredness (asthenia), chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and problems with thinking and mood. The authors explain that fatigue can start as your body's way of protecting itself when energy is running low, but it can develop into a serious condition that affects quality of life. They discuss how ME/CFS often appears alongside cognitive difficulties and mood changes, which can make diagnosis confusing.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

[Stress, asthenia and cognitive disorders].

Vasenina, E E, Gankina, O A, Levin, O S·Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova·2022

This article examines how extreme tiredness (asthenia) relates to ME/CFS and other conditions affecting mood and thinking. The authors explain that severe fatigue can start as the body's warning signal that energy is running out, but it can develop into a serious, disabling disease on its own. They discuss how fatigue often occurs together with depression, anxiety, and problems with memory or concentration, which can make it harder for doctors to figure out what's really causing a patient's symptoms.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

An Unexpected Journey: The Lived Experiences of Patients with Long-Term Cognitive Sequelae After Recovering from COVID-19.

Loft, Mia I, Foged, Eva M, Koreska, Mai·Qualitative health research·2022

This study listened to people who experienced long-lasting thinking and memory problems after recovering from COVID-19. Patients described how these cognitive symptoms disrupted their daily lives, work, and relationships, and left them feeling anxious and uncertain about their future. The researchers suggest that doctors and researchers could learn from how people with similar conditions—like ME/CFS—manage their symptoms while waiting for treatments.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

Clinical effects of wasabi extract containing 6-MSITC on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an open-label trial.

Oka, Takakazu, Yamada, Yu, Lkhagvasuren, Battuvshin et al.·BioPsychoSocial medicine·2022

Researchers tested whether wasabi extract—specifically a compound called 6-MSITC that has anti-inflammatory properties—could help people with ME/CFS. Fifteen patients took the supplement daily for 12 weeks, and many reported improvements in headaches, muscle pain, brain fog, and cognitive problems like word-finding difficulties. The study found measurable improvements in pain sensitivity and thinking speed, though overall fatigue scores did not change significantly.

Cognitive ImpairmentPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Wirth, Klaus J, Scheibenbogen, Carmen, Paul, Friedemann·Journal of translational medicine·2021

This paper proposes an explanation for why ME/CFS patients experience brain fog, cognitive problems, headaches, and other neurological symptoms. The authors suggest that blood vessels in the brain may not be working properly, reducing blood flow to the brain and increasing pressure inside the skull. They argue this could also cause an overactive stress response in the nervous system, leading to the wide range of symptoms patients experience.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearObservational

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

Teitelbaum, Jacob, Goudie, Sarah·Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2021

This study tested a special form of red ginseng called HRG80 in people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and post-COVID fatigue. Over one month, 188 patients took daily ginseng supplements and reported their symptoms. About 60% of participants felt better, with improvements in energy, mental clarity, sleep, and stamina.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleepPain and Sensitization

E3 PreliminaryPEM not required

Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building.

Kramer, Axel, Wichelhaus, Thomas A, Kempf, Volkhard et al.·GMS hygiene and infection control·2021

A family of five living in a house with severe mold damage all developed health problems. The mother developed symptoms very similar to ME/CFS, including extreme fatigue, cognitive problems, sleep issues, and respiratory complaints. After the family moved out, symptoms improved gradually—the father recovered in 2 weeks, the children in 6 months, and the mother took 18 months to fully recover.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Central sensitivity and fibromyalgia.

Mezhov, Veronica, Guymer, Emma, Littlejohn, Geoffrey·Internal medicine journal·2021

This review describes fibromyalgia and related conditions—such as irritable bowel syndrome and, by analogy, chronic fatigue syndrome—as disorders associated with altered pain and sensory processing in the central nervous system. The authors propose that recognizing these overlaps may help doctors diagnose and manage patients more effectively, and they outline integrated treatment approaches including education, exercise, stress reduction, and medications. However, as a review article, this represents a synthesis of existing literature rather than new experimental evidence, and the strength of evidence for individual claims varies.

Cognitive ImpairmentSleep

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredObservational

Changes in the Allostatic Response to Whole-Body Cryotherapy and Static-Stretching Exercises in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients vs. Healthy Individuals.

Kujawski, Sławomir, Bach, Anna M, Słomko, Joanna et al.·Journal of clinical medicine·2021

This study compared how the bodies of ME/CFS patients and healthy people respond to cold therapy combined with stretching exercises. Researchers measured fatigue, thinking ability, heart function, and nervous system activity before and after 10 sessions of treatment. They found that ME/CFS patients showed more disrupted connections between these body systems compared to healthy controls, suggesting their bodies struggle more to maintain balance under stress.

Autonomic Nervous SystemCognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Post-COVID-19 syndrome: epidemiology, diagnostic criteria and pathogenic mechanisms involved.

Carod-Artal, F J·Revista de neurologia·2021

This editorial reviews what is known about post-COVID-19 syndrome, a condition where some patients experience persistent symptoms weeks or months after COVID-19 infection. The authors observe that fatigue, breathing difficulties, and cognitive problems are common, and note that between 10% and 65% of people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 report ongoing symptoms for 12 weeks or more. However, the authors acknowledge that the underlying biological mechanisms remain unknown, and there is currently no agreed diagnostic standard for this condition.

Cognitive ImpairmentDiagnostics

E3 PreliminaryBehavioralPEM unclear

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

Maroti, Daniel, Johansson, Robert·Frontiers in psychiatry·2021

This study examined whether changing how patients think about their symptoms (cognitive change) is necessary to improve symptoms in people with functional somatic syndromes like ME/CFS. The researchers explored the relationship between psychological thinking patterns and symptom improvement to understand better which approaches might help patients feel better.

Cognitive Impairment

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The Potential Role of Hypothalamic Phospholipid Liposomes in the Supportive Therapy of Some Manifestations of Post-COVID-19 Condition: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Brain Fog.

Exploring the arcuate fasciculus from a clinical perspective.

[Asthenia, mental fatigue and cognitive dysfunction].

What is brain fog?

Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Experiences of occupational disruption for adults in Australia.

Study on the active components and mechanism of Suanzaoren decoction in improving cognitive impairment caused by sleep deprivation.

Review of the Midbrain Ascending Arousal Network Nuclei and Implications for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Postexertional Malaise (PEM).

Possible Application of Melatonin in Long COVID.

Assessment of Hearing and Vestibular Functions in a Post-COVID-19 Patient: A Clinical Case Study.

Stress, Asthenia, and Cognitive Disorders.

[Stress, asthenia and cognitive disorders].

An Unexpected Journey: The Lived Experiences of Patients with Long-Term Cognitive Sequelae After Recovering from COVID-19.

Clinical effects of wasabi extract containing 6-MSITC on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: an open-label trial.

An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

An Open-Label, Pilot Trial of HRG80™ Red Ginseng in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and Post-Viral Fatigue.

Building-related illness (BRI) in all family members caused by mold infestation after dampness damage of the building.

Central sensitivity and fibromyalgia.

Changes in the Allostatic Response to Whole-Body Cryotherapy and Static-Stretching Exercises in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients vs. Healthy Individuals.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome: epidemiology, diagnostic criteria and pathogenic mechanisms involved.

Is Cognitive Change Necessary to Alleviate Symptoms in Patients With Functional Somatic Syndrome?

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