ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

3801–3820 of 6,188 studies

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 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 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 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 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 requiredMechanistic

Genetic depletion of the early autophagy protein ATG13 impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism, augments oxidative stress, induces the polarization of macrophages to the M1 inflammatory mode, and compromises myelin integrity in skeletal muscle.

Toriola, Mubaraq A, Timlin, Emma, Bulbule, Sarojini et al.·Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]·2026

This study examined a protein called ATG13 that helps cells clean up damaged parts, particularly in immune cells called macrophages. When ATG13 was reduced, these immune cells couldn't work properly, their energy-producing structures (mitochondria) became dysfunctional, and they created too much harmful oxidative stress. This triggered the immune cells to switch into an inflammatory state and caused muscle weakness and nerve damage in a mouse model.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

Utility of Urinary β2-Microglobulin for Detection of Renal Sarcoidosis Without Pulmonary Involvement: A Case Report.

Oue, Yuri, Saiki, Ryosuke, Murata, Tomohiro et al.·Reports (MDPI)·2026

This case report describes a 60-year-old woman who was initially misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome when she actually had sarcoidosis (an inflammatory disease) affecting her kidneys. Doctors discovered this by finding very high levels of a protein called β2-microglobulin in her urine, which led to a kidney biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis. After treatment with a steroid medication, her kidney function improved and her fatigue completely resolved.

Diagnostics

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

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A Decade With Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report and Personal Experience.

D, Kayalvizhi, Moradeyo, Adedeji Yusuf, G, Bhuvaneswari·Case reports in endocrinology·2025

This case report describes a woman who developed Sheehan's syndrome, a rare condition where the pituitary gland (a hormone-producing gland in the brain) is damaged after severe bleeding during childbirth. Her symptoms—including extreme tiredness, hair loss, irregular periods, and mood swings—were mistakenly attributed to postpartum depression for years before the correct diagnosis was made. She required lifelong hormone replacement therapy, though her symptoms persisted despite treatment adjustments.

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM not requiredCase-Control

A novel frameshift mutation in ADCK1 identified in a case of chronic fatigue syndrome successfully treated with oral 5-ALA/SFC.

Koga, Tomohiro, Kita, Kiyoshi, Okumura, Junko et al.·Immunological medicine·2025

This study reports a single patient with ME/CFS who carried a rare genetic mutation affecting how cells produce energy. When treated with a supplement called 5-ALA/SFC along with other nutrients, the patient's fatigue and daily functioning significantly improved. This case suggests that some people with ME/CFS may have mitochondrial (cellular energy) problems related to this genetic change, and that certain supplements might help.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

Polymerized Type I Collagen Downregulates STAT-1 Phosphorylation Through Engagement with LAIR-1 in Circulating Monocytes, Avoiding Long COVID.

Olivares-Martínez, Elizabeth, Hernández-Ramírez, Diego Francisco, Núñez-Álvarez, Carlos Alberto et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Researchers tested a treatment called polymerized type I collagen (PTIC) in COVID-19 patients and found it may help reduce excessive inflammation by calming down immune cells called monocytes. The treatment appeared to improve breathing, reduce fatigue, chest pain, and cough in both the acute phase and long-term recovery from COVID-19. This finding could potentially be relevant for patients with long COVID or ME/CFS, which involve similar inflammatory problems.

Immune System

E3 PreliminaryDiagnosticPEM unclearMethods-Paper

Developing a minimum dataset for a national patient registry on Long COVID in Canada: a Delphi consensus-based study.

Mazurik, Kathrina, Amah, Adelaide, Dumitrescu, Donna Ioana et al.·BMJ open·2025

Researchers in Canada wanted to create a standard list of questions for a national registry to collect information about Long COVID from patients. They asked 52 experts—including patients, caregivers, doctors, and researchers—to vote on which questions were most important across three rounds of surveys. The final list includes 48 key questions focused on fatigue, post-exertional malaise, heart problems, breathing issues, brain fog, quality of life, and healthcare access.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM requiredEditorial

Complex chronic adverse events following immunization: a systemic critique and reform proposal for vaccine pharmacovigilance.

Kenny, Tiff-Annie·Therapeutic advances in drug safety·2025

This paper describes complex, long-lasting health problems that some people develop after vaccination, which resemble ME/CFS and Long COVID symptoms like fatigue, pain, brain fog, and heart rhythm issues. The author argues that current vaccine safety systems are not well-designed to detect or investigate these kinds of slow-developing, multisystem conditions because they work best for identifying immediate reactions like fever or allergies. The paper proposes changes to how we monitor vaccine safety—including better training for doctors, longer-term tracking of patients, and including patients' own descriptions of their symptoms—to catch these problems more effectively.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Long Covid in Year 5: Some Progress, Still Many Questions.

Meagher, Timothy·Journal of insurance medicine (New York, N.Y.)·2025

Five years after Long Covid was first recognized in 2020, researchers have made progress understanding the condition, but significant challenges remain. While most people's symptoms improve over time, scientists still haven't found reliable blood tests to diagnose it or effective treatments. Long Covid appears to share many similarities with ME/CFS, and the condition can develop or worsen after repeated COVID-19 infections.

Long COVID Overlap

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Retracted: Chronic Epipharyngitis Treated with Epipharyngeal Abrasion Therapy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Outcomes.

Harabuchi, Yasuaki, Kumai, Takumi, Nishi, Kensuke et al.·JMA journal·2025

This article discusses chronic epipharyngitis—long-term inflammation in the upper throat—and describes a treatment called epipharyngeal abrasion therapy (EAT) that aims to reduce this inflammation. The authors note that this throat inflammation may cause various symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, and cough, and they review evidence that EAT might help some patients, including those with long COVID. However, this paper has been retracted and should not be relied upon for clinical decisions.

Cognitive Impairment

E3 PreliminaryCohortPEM unclearCase-Control

Novel Oronasal Drainage for Long COVID: Proposed Mechanisms-Case Report.

Lorenz, Claudia, Frankenberger, Roland·Viruses·2025

Researchers tested a new treatment called oronasal drainage (OND) for Long COVID, which involves a gentle abrasive therapy targeting the drainage areas in the nose and mouth. In one patient case, this treatment appeared to reduce various Long COVID symptoms and improve blood circulation to the hands. While these results are promising, the study was very small and more research is needed to confirm whether this treatment actually works.

E3 PreliminaryMechanismPEM not requiredMechanistic

PKM2 accelerated the progression of chronic fatigue syndrome via promoting the H4K12la/ NF-κB induced neuroinflammation and mitochondrial damage.

Sun, Meng, Zhang, Xinwen, Feng, Xinli et al.·Scientific reports·2025

This study in mice explored how a protein called PKM2 may contribute to ME/CFS by increasing inflammation in the brain and damaging energy-producing structures inside cells (mitochondria). Researchers found that when PKM2 levels increased, cognitive problems worsened and brain cells showed more damage, while reducing PKM2 improved these outcomes. The mechanism involves lactate buildup and activation of inflammatory pathways in the brain.

Neuroinflammation

E3 PreliminaryPEM unclear

A Perspective on the Role of Metformin in Treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID.

Fineberg, David, Moreau, Alain, Schneider-Futschik, Elena K et al.·ACS pharmacology & translational science·2025

This article explores whether metformin, a common diabetes medication, might help treat ME/CFS and Long COVID by fixing problems with how cells make energy and controlling inflammation. The authors explain that metformin could work by reducing harmful molecules in cells, improving how the body uses energy, and calming down overactive immune responses. However, they stress that metformin would likely work best as part of a combination treatment rather than as a single cure.

Energy Metabolism

E3 PreliminaryCommentaryPEM unclearEditorial

Skeletal muscle adaptations and post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

Charlton, Braeden T, Goulding, Richie P, Jaspers, Richard T et al.·Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM·2025

This article reviews evidence that long COVID symptoms—especially worsening after activity (post-exertional malaise)—may be caused by problems with how muscles produce energy, damage to blood vessel function, and changes in muscle fiber types that make them rely more on less-efficient energy pathways. The authors suggest that physical or mental exertion may trigger rapid muscle damage and immune cell infiltration, which could explain why patients feel worse after activity.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E3 PreliminaryReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Hemostatic Disorders Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection, COVID-19 Vaccination, and Long-COVID Syndrome: Current Evidence and Controversies in Clinical Practice.

Vishnu, Prakash, Aboulafia, David M·Clinics in laboratory medicine·2025

This review examines blood clotting problems that have been reported in people with COVID-19, those who received COVID-19 vaccines, and people with Long-COVID (including ME/CFS-like symptoms). The authors summarize what we know about these clotting issues, ranging from minor platelet problems to serious blood clots, and discuss areas where doctors and researchers disagree about what's happening and why.

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

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

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

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

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

Genetic depletion of the early autophagy protein ATG13 impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism, augments oxidative stress, induces the polarization of macrophages to the M1 inflammatory mode, and compromises myelin integrity in skeletal muscle.

Utility of Urinary β2-Microglobulin for Detection of Renal Sarcoidosis Without Pulmonary Involvement: A Case Report.

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

A Decade With Sheehan's Syndrome: A Case Report and Personal Experience.

A novel frameshift mutation in ADCK1 identified in a case of chronic fatigue syndrome successfully treated with oral 5-ALA/SFC.

Polymerized Type I Collagen Downregulates STAT-1 Phosphorylation Through Engagement with LAIR-1 in Circulating Monocytes, Avoiding Long COVID.

Developing a minimum dataset for a national patient registry on Long COVID in Canada: a Delphi consensus-based study.

Complex chronic adverse events following immunization: a systemic critique and reform proposal for vaccine pharmacovigilance.

Long Covid in Year 5: Some Progress, Still Many Questions.

Retracted: Chronic Epipharyngitis Treated with Epipharyngeal Abrasion Therapy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Outcomes.

Novel Oronasal Drainage for Long COVID: Proposed Mechanisms-Case Report.

PKM2 accelerated the progression of chronic fatigue syndrome via promoting the H4K12la/ NF-κB induced neuroinflammation and mitochondrial damage.

A Perspective on the Role of Metformin in Treating Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID.

Skeletal muscle adaptations and post-exertional malaise in long COVID.

Hemostatic Disorders Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection, COVID-19 Vaccination, and Long-COVID Syndrome: Current Evidence and Controversies in Clinical Practice.

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