ME/CFS Evidence Browser — Classified Studies on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

41–60 of 6,121 studies

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Comparative efficacy of various exercise therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Liao, Zhongxin, Zhao, Suhong, Fang, Sitong et al.·iScience·2025

Researchers reviewed 25 studies testing different types of exercise for ME/CFS to see which worked best. Graded exercise therapy (GET)—where activity is slowly increased over time—showed the most short-term improvement in fatigue, mood, and anxiety compared to no treatment. Other exercises like yoga, qigong, and strength training showed smaller benefits that may not be meaningful for most patients.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Nutraceutical Supplementation Effects on Subjective Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Brito, Emanuella M, Bonifanti, Leonardo, Patel, Rajvi et al.·Cureus·2025

This review looked at studies testing whether vitamins, minerals, and dietary changes help ME/CFS patients feel less exhausted. Researchers found that a few supplements—like NADH, CoQ10, wasabi, and probiotics—showed promise in improving symptoms. However, many studies didn't use standardized ways to measure improvement, making it hard to compare results fairly across different research.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Wei, Zhenya, Wu, Heying, Cui, Chong et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2025

Researchers reviewed 13 studies involving 1,305 ME/CFS patients to see how exercise therapy affects fatigue. Exercise therapy did reduce fatigue overall, but the type of exercise mattered: traditional aerobic exercise was better for reducing overall tiredness, while a gentler practice called Qigong was better for mental fatigue. However, the researchers noted that more research is needed to fully understand whether these treatments are safe for ME/CFS patients.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Machine learning and multi-omics in precision medicine for ME/CFS.

Huang, Katherine, Lidbury, Brett A, Thomas, Natalie et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This review examines how advanced computer analysis and detailed biological testing could help doctors better understand and treat ME/CFS. Because ME/CFS affects people differently, researchers are exploring ways to look at each patient's unique genetic and molecular makeup to find personalized treatments. The study discusses how combining multiple types of biological data—genes, proteins, and metabolites—along with artificial intelligence could help identify specific patterns that distinguish ME/CFS patients and guide their care.

Biomarkers

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Dietary Supplementation for Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systematic Review.

Dorczok, Marie Celine, Mittmann, Gloria, Mossaheb, Nilufar et al.·Nutrients·2025

This review looked at 14 studies examining whether dietary supplements can help reduce fatigue in ME/CFS patients. Some supplements like L-carnitine, CoQ10 combined with selenium, and NADH showed promise in reducing fatigue symptoms. However, the studies had significant quality issues, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about which supplements truly work.

Interventions

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Predictors of Treatment Success of Psychotherapy in Functional Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Rometsch, Caroline, Martin, Alexandra, Cosci, Fiammetta·Clinical psychology & psychotherapy·2025

This review looked at 24 studies involving over 3,300 people to understand which factors help predict whether talk therapy will work well for conditions like ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and IBS. Researchers found that how severe your symptoms are, whether you have depression or anxiety alongside your main condition, and the intensity of pain you experience can all affect how much therapy helps. This information could help doctors choose the right type of therapy for each person.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Overlap in Common Symptoms and Underlying Biological Mechanisms: Implications for Future Therapeutic Strategies.

Mantle, David, Domingo, Joan Carles, Golomb, Beatrice Alexandra et al.·International journal of molecular sciences·2025

This review examines four conditions—Gulf War Illness, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and long COVID—that share similar symptoms like fatigue, pain, and brain fog. Researchers found that these disorders may share common biological problems, particularly with how cells produce energy (mitochondria), manage stress, and control inflammation. The authors suggest that a supplement called CoQ10 might help because it supports cellular energy production and reduces harmful inflammation.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

Advancing research on regulatory autoantibodies targeting GPCRs: Insights from the 5th international symposium.

Cabral-Marques, Otavio, Schimke, Lena F, Moll, Guido et al.·Autoimmunity reviews·2025

Scientists at an international conference discussed autoantibodies—immune proteins that can attack the body's own cells—that target structures called GPCRs found on many cells. These autoantibodies were once thought to be harmless side effects but are now recognized as active players in diseases including ME/CFS and long COVID. The conference brought together experts to share new ways of detecting these autoantibodies and ideas for using them as diagnostic tools and treatment targets.

BiomarkersImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearSystematic-Review

Decreased Heart Rate Variability Is Associated with Increased Fatigue Across Different Medical Populations: A Systematic Review.

Penfold, Sophie Maria, Cunningham, James, Whelan, Pauline et al.·Pathophysiology : the official journal of the International Society for Pathophysiology·2025

This review looked at 17 studies examining the link between fatigue and heart rate variability (HRV)—a measure of how well your nervous system is working. The researchers found that people who feel more fatigued tend to have imbalanced heart rate patterns, suggesting their autonomic nervous system (the part controlling automatic body functions) may not be working properly. ME/CFS patients were the most studied group, making this particularly relevant to understanding fatigue in this condition.

Autonomic Nervous System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Mapping the brain's fatigue network: a transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis on functional correlates of mental fatigue.

Schumann, Andy, Di Giuliano, Monica, Schulz, Steffen et al.·Brain communications·2025

Scientists analyzed brain imaging studies from 46 different research projects involving over 2,600 people to understand how fatigue affects the brain. They found that mental fatigue—the kind experienced in ME/CFS, long COVID, and other conditions—involves a network of interconnected brain regions, particularly in areas responsible for thinking, emotions, and body awareness. These brain regions don't communicate properly when people experience severe fatigue, which may explain why fatigue is so hard to overcome.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearReview-Narrative

Metabolic neuroimaging of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and Long-COVID.

Zhu, Yijuan, Quan, Patrick, Yamazaki, Tadahiro et al.·Immunometabolism (Cobham, Surrey)·2025

This review examines brain imaging studies that look at how the brains of people with ME/CFS and Long-COVID process energy and nutrients differently. Researchers used advanced scanning techniques to measure glucose and oxygen use in the brain, finding that both conditions show similar patterns of disrupted brain energy metabolism and inflammation. The findings suggest these brain changes might explain why patients experience persistent fatigue, thinking problems, and worsening after physical activity.

BiomarkersNeuroinflammation

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Adrenergic dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hendrix, Jolien, Fanning, Lara, Wyns, Arne et al.·European journal of clinical investigation·2025

Researchers analyzed 37 studies comparing how the bodies of ME/CFS and fibromyalgia patients handle stress hormones compared to healthy people. They found that ME/CFS patients have higher levels of adrenaline at rest and unusual responses to exercise and position changes—suggesting their nervous system doesn't regulate stress hormones normally. These findings point to a specific biological problem in ME/CFS that might be treatable.

ME/CFS (general)

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM unclearMeta-Analysis

Endometriosis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Compton, Sabrina, Alkabalan, Rodolf, Cadet, Judd et al.·Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

This research found that women with endometriosis (a painful condition affecting the uterus) are nearly three times more likely to develop ME/CFS than women without endometriosis. Both conditions involve similar patterns of immune system problems and ongoing inflammation. The study combined results from multiple research papers to show this connection is real and consistent across different groups of patients.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Differential Characteristics and Comparison Between Long-COVID Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Ivanovska, Mariya, Homadi, Maysam Salim, Angelova, Gergana et al.·Biomedicines·2025

This review compared Long-COVID (illness after COVID-19) and ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), which share similar symptoms like extreme tiredness, difficulty thinking clearly, and problems with the nervous system. While both conditions likely involve immune system problems, viral persistence, and blood vessel issues, they appear to have some differences in how they develop. Currently, there is no cure for either condition, though lifestyle management and rehabilitation help some people.

Cognitive ImpairmentImmune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredReview-Narrative

A review of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of neuroimmune conditions, acute COVID-19 infection, and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 Syndrome.

Morse, Brinkley A, Motovilov, Katherine, Michael Brode, W et al.·Brain, behavior, and immunity·2025

This review examines intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a treatment that works by providing immune-boosting antibodies, for several conditions including ME/CFS and long COVID. The researchers found that IVIG may help reduce symptoms in some patients, though results have been mixed. The treatment can have side effects and is very expensive, which limits how widely it can be used.

Immune System

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

The search for a blood-based biomarker for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): from biochemistry to electrophysiology.

Clarke, Krista S P, Kingdon, Caroline C, Hughes, Michael Pycraft et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This review looked at recent research on finding a simple blood test that could definitively diagnose ME/CFS, which currently takes years and relies on ruling out other diseases. Scientists have found several promising approaches—including measuring immune cell properties, checking how blood cells respond to stress, and detecting metabolic changes—that show they can tell ME/CFS patients apart from healthy people and others with different illnesses. However, these tests need more testing in larger groups and practical refinement before doctors can use them in everyday care.

Post-Exertional Malaise

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Applicability and adaptation of cognitive behavior therapy for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms: a review with insights from ME/CFS.

Takamatsu, Naoki, Kuga, Hironori·BMC infectious diseases·2025

This review examined whether cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)—a talking therapy that helps address thought patterns and behaviors—might help patients with long COVID who experience brain fog, fatigue, and mood problems. The authors compared long COVID to ME/CFS, noting they share many features, and found that while CBT may help some patients feel less tired and think more clearly, it works best when tailored to each person's energy limits and combined with other treatments. Importantly, the authors stress that suggesting CBT does not mean these illnesses are 'all in your head'—they have real physical causes.

Immune SystemPost-Exertional MalaiseNeuroinflammation

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredReview-Narrative

Assessment of symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparative study of existing scales.

Lu, Jing, Sun, Weibo, Li, Shulin et al.·Frontiers in neurology·2025

This review examined the different questionnaires and tests doctors use to measure ME/CFS symptoms. The researchers looked at how well these tools work for diagnosing the illness and tracking how patients change over time. They found that while current tests are reasonably reliable, we need better tools that measure all the different ways ME/CFS affects people—like fatigue, brain fog, pain, and sleep problems—in a more consistent and objective way.

ME/CFS (general)

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM requiredSystematic-Review

Health-related quality of life in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition: a systematic review.

Weigel, Breanna, Inderyas, Maira, Eaton-Fitch, Natalie et al.·Journal of translational medicine·2025

This review looked at 16 research studies comparing how ME/CFS and long COVID affect people's quality of life compared to healthy people. The findings show that both conditions severely impact physical health, daily activities, work, and pain levels. People with these illnesses struggle significantly more than healthy individuals across all areas of life, highlighting the urgent need for better support services and disability recognition.

E0 ConsensusReviewPEM not requiredSystematic-Review

Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

De Vera Martín, Antonio, Salazar, Alberto Díaz, Pérez, Isidro Miguel Martín et al.·International journal of exercise science·2025

This review examined whether exercise-based treatments help people with ME/CFS feel less tired and function better. Researchers looked at 7 high-quality studies involving 2,276 patients and found that exercise did reduce fatigue in the short to medium term (up to several months). However, improvements in daily functioning were modest and did not last long-term, and some measures actually favored control groups over exercise interventions.

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Evidence Atlas

Evidence browser

Comparative efficacy of various exercise therapies for chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Nutraceutical Supplementation Effects on Subjective Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Effectiveness and safety of exercise therapy in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Machine learning and multi-omics in precision medicine for ME/CFS.

Dietary Supplementation for Fatigue Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)-A Systematic Review.

Predictors of Treatment Success of Psychotherapy in Functional Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Gulf War Illness, Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID Overlap in Common Symptoms and Underlying Biological Mechanisms: Implications for Future Therapeutic Strategies.

Advancing research on regulatory autoantibodies targeting GPCRs: Insights from the 5th international symposium.

Decreased Heart Rate Variability Is Associated with Increased Fatigue Across Different Medical Populations: A Systematic Review.

Mapping the brain's fatigue network: a transdiagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis on functional correlates of mental fatigue.

Metabolic neuroimaging of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and Long-COVID.

Adrenergic dysfunction in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Endometriosis and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Differential Characteristics and Comparison Between Long-COVID Syndrome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

A review of intravenous immunoglobulin in the treatment of neuroimmune conditions, acute COVID-19 infection, and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 Syndrome.

The search for a blood-based biomarker for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): from biochemistry to electrophysiology.

Applicability and adaptation of cognitive behavior therapy for long COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms: a review with insights from ME/CFS.

Assessment of symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a comparative study of existing scales.

Health-related quality of life in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post COVID-19 Condition: a systematic review.

Effectiveness of Exercise-Based Rehabilitation in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

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