Two studies published in Cell Host & Microbe look at the gut microbiome and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). … read more
A study published in Science Advances looks at antibody responses against human microbiota flagellins in chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) … read more
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published its updated guideline on the diagnosis and management of myalgic … read more
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have released the latest estimates of the prevalence people with self-reported “long COVID” using data from … read more
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have announced today that they have decided to pause publication of … read more
NICE have released an updated draft guideline for the diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). … read more
Lyme disease is a relatively rare infection in the UK, with about 2,000 to 3,000 cases diagnosed per year. But … read more
Research published in PNAS suggests a potential biomarker for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) Prof Chris Ponting, Chair of Medical … read more
A reanalysis of the PACE trial is published in BMC Psychology. read more
Last week we ran press conferences on climate change and CFS/ME. The subjects are complex and contentious, and there is always the potential for jarring or simplistic headlines and strong reactions from the vocal critics of research in these fields. But it was the criticism from within the scientific community that we had not anticipated. read more
The Lightning Process is a controversial treatment that is sometimes used for children with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). read more
In a new study, and despite strong initial scepticism, researchers publishing in the Journal of Archives of Disease in Childhood report that a training course alongside specialist care has proved to be an effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encdephalomyelitis (ME). read more
Researchers publishing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) report a link between chronic fatigue syndrome and cytokine concentrations that correlate with the disease’s severity. read more
Researchers publishing in The Lancet present their findings from a randomised controlled trial they conducted to test the efficacy and safety of graded exercise delivered as guided self-help, for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. read more
In England up to two in 100 children have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME), the illness means they are unable to go to school or do other activities for more than three months. In fact 1% of secondary school children miss a day a week or more because of it. Unfortunately controversy rages around the illness and the treatment. Most children will recover if they receive specialist treatment; however, there is very limited specialist care in the UK and approximately 90% of children live too far away to receive the treatment they need. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is known to be effective for children and a very successful trial in the Netherlands showed it can be delivered over the internet, meaning children can be helped wherever they live. However, we do not know if the results can be replicated in the UK so researchers, amidst rising tension from some people who do not support treatments such as CBT or Graded Exercise Therapy, are now starting a large clinical trial to test whether this treatment would work in the UK and should be available on the NHS. read more
A group of researchers publishing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) have examined the metabolic features of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) and report a number of differences in various metabolic pathways. read more
CFS/ME affects around 250,000 people in the UK and in severe cases results in patients being mostly bedridden and unable to do more than minimal daily tasks. The PACE trial, published in 2011, suggested that Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) were moderately effective ways of treating people. A subsequent PACE trial follow-up study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry in January 2015, attempted to explain how and why these therapies work and what the implications were. Now, a follow-up study, also published in The Lancet Psychiatry, has assessed the participants’ health in the long-term, and asks whether their current state of health, two and a half years after entering the trial, has been affected by which treatment they received in the trial. read more
A paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry reports results of a long-term follow-up study to the PACE trial for CFS/ME. The study has assessed the original trial participants’ health in the long-term, and asks whether their current state of health, two and a half years after entering the trial, has been affected by which treatment they received in the trial. read more
A paper published in the journal Science Advances has reported the presence of a specific biomarker signature in patients early in the course of CFS/ME, which was not seen in patients with a longer duration of the illness or in healthy individuals. The biomarkers relate to immune signalling messengers. read more
CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis) is a disease primarily characterised by extreme exhaustion that leaves many patients unable to perform even basic activities or look after themselves. Whilst there is currently no cure and the disease is poorly understood, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) have proved to be the most effective treatments for managing symptoms and improving physical function. read more
