New discovery 'clears the name' of people with chronic fatigue

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have just announced a discovery that could completely change the way medicine views chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) - a long-term debilitating disease that has long been associated with the stereotype of being "psychological" or "lazy".

The DecodeME study (a genome-wide association study to look for genetic risk factors for ME/CFS) was based on data collected from 15,579 people who self-reported ME/CFS and 259,909 people who did not have the condition, all of European descent.

The study found eight regions of genetic code that were different in people with ME/CFS compared to healthy people, and this is the “first reliable evidence that genes can determine disease risk”. The gene variants were more common in patients with immune and nervous system-related disorders.

At least two gene regions control the body’s response to infection – consistent with the fact that many patients develop symptoms after an infectious illness. Another gene region has been found in people with chronic pain, which is a common manifestation of ME/CFS.

"This finding is consistent with what patients have reported for decades, and will be a turning point for the field of ME/CFS research," said researcher Andy Devereux-Cooke. However, he also noted that while it would not immediately produce a test or a treatment, the results would pave the way for a deeper understanding of the syndrome.

According to scientists, the telltale symptoms of ME/CFS are fatigue, aches and pains, and "brain fog" that worsen after even very light physical or mental activity.

The cause of ME/CFS is unknown, and there is no diagnostic test or treatment. Scientists estimate that the syndrome affects about 67 million people worldwide.