In-depth analysis of research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Formerly known as ME/CFS Skeptic. https://mecfsscience.org/https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.orghttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mvrnozytof241) A genetic analysis of the UK Biobank found 7 ME/CFS hits that were replicated in another cohort such as the All of Us cohort. One signal matched with expression of the gene CLYBL in the putamen brain region. But there are many caveats. None replicated in DecodeME. 18 Sep 2026 07:33 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvrnozytof24https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mvpaf6hxjp2e1) The pharma company BioVie announced the results of the phase 2 trial of their drug Bezisterim for Long Covid. Although the primary analysis showed no significant effect, an analysis in subgroups with a great symptom burden suggested an improvement. A brief breakdown 👇 17 Sep 2026 08:29 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvpaf6hxjp2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mvhlhmircj241) There's a new consensus statement on ME/CFS diagnosis and assessment by 19 experts. The table below shows some of the objective tests they recommend for various symptom domains including a standing test, polysomnography, actigraphy, CPET, NK cytotoxicity, etc. 14 Sep 2026 07:26 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvhlhmircj24https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mvaagrsway2z1) This study found that ME/CFS patients often have too low blood and low red blood cell volume. But surprisingly, these measures weren't related to orthostatic intolerance as measured by a lean test. This suggest that hypovolemia isn't the main reason for orthostatic problems. 11 Sep 2026 09:20 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvaagrsway2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3muqymsyhy72r1) I looked at the big genetic study on fibromyalgia (Kerrebijn et al. 2026) and how well it correlated with findings for ME/CFS in DecodeME. Using European samples, the correlation was quite big: rg = 0.75. A brief discussion of the implications 👇05 Sep 2026 07:51 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3muqymsyhy72rhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3muoinsldhl2t1) A new paper on ME/CFS is getting media attention: it's about how the chromosomes containing our DNA are folded. These 3D structures can influence the expression of genes. Unfortunately, I don't think this study warrants all the attention... 04 Sep 2026 07:59 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3muoinsldhl2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mujwnejkrs251) Dr. Edzard Ernst, who often writes critically about alternative medicine and pseudoscience, has written a blog about this Lightning process trial for Long Covid. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Sep 2026 12:26 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mujwnejkrs25https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mugwts6wis271) Many patients with orthostatic intolerance do not meet the require heart rate increase of POTS criteria. This new expert consensus paper argues that that this group deserves more recognition, including a separate diagnosis and ICD-code. 01 Sep 2026 07:52 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mugwts6wis27https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3muei2wklif2g1) Very sad news that Jo Cambridge has passed away. She was a Prof. in rheumatology who pioneered B-cell depletion therapy in autoimmune diseases together with Jonathan Edwards. But she also did several useful studies on ME/CFS and was much loved in the community. 31 Aug 2026 08:22 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3muei2wklif2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mubwuxinfb2j1) 🇳🇱 In the Netherlands, ME/CFS patient and advocate Anil Van Der Zee was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau. It's an recognition of his outstanding contribution to society, a very high honour. 30 Aug 2026 08:09 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mubwuxinfb2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mu7orb3fwc2kI've changed one plot (the Majeed 1996 data) to better show that the difference isn't due to outliers. This study also combined male and females, which might explain the bigger overlap between groups compared to other studies. [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Aug 2026 10:39 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7orb3fwc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mu7eszuzye2e1) New blog article: the hormone prolactin rises much higher in ME/CFS patients after taking buspirone than in controls. This is one of the most replicated findings in the field but for years this line of research was abandoned. https://mecfsscience.org/increased-prolactin-response-to-buspirone/29 Aug 2026 07:41 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7eszuzye2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mtyilkrryc2kThe ISLC-PAIS Conference in Amsterdam started today. Will not be able to follow unfortunately but look forward to hearing more about this presentation by Martin Broberg from Finland. It says they did a genetic meta-analysis with more than 46,000 ME/CFS patients worldwide. 26 Aug 2026 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtyilkrryc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mtsvbskwrm2u1) A short but powerful blog by Anil van der Zee: "Not an Advocate. Not Your Silver Lining Porn. Just Desperation." 👇 https://anilvanderzee.com/not-an-advocate-not-your-silver-lining-porn-just-desperation/24 Aug 2026 08:31 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtsvbskwrm2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mtg6vt2sme2x1) The Science for ME forum has published a factsheet on the "Management of severe and very severe ME/CFS." It was written by Professor Emeritus Jonathan Edwards and various forum members. Looks like a useful reference for ME/CFS patients and their carers. A brief summary 👇 19 Aug 2026 07:18 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtg6vt2sme2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mtbqbjshvs2kThere's more info about the study in this presentation by Professor Rikke Olsen at the Invest in ME conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXhsfH7SncI [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Aug 2026 12:46 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtbqbjshvs2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mtb7agbis22o1) 🇩🇰 Looks like there's a new ME/CFS trial in Denmark called 'REenergizeME'. It will test intermittent hypoxiahyperoxia treatment (IHHT) in 104 female patients selected using the international consensus criteria. It includes FUNCAP and several objective outcomes. 17 Aug 2026 07:41 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtb7agbis22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mt6oc3bvj72u1) Many of the genes linked to ME/CFS in DecodeME point to neural synapses. We therefore did an analysis using SynGo, a large database of synaptic genes. Experts in the field grouped these genes into multiple categories based on their location or biological function.16 Aug 2026 07:32 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt6oc3bvj72uhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mt56pa7sok2tFor people interested in details of this study on brain scans and hypoxia in ME/CFS. One of the authors wrote a very thoughtful reply to comments about the study on the S4ME forum. Read the discussion here: https://s4me.info/threads/experimental-hypoxia-to-probe-neuro-metabolic-and-vascular-dysregulation-in-me-cfs-a-multimodal-proof-of-concept-mri-study-2026-bader-et-al.51794/post-713695 [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Aug 2026 17:21 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt56pa7sok2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mt45kgjm4b2z1) The WE&ME Foundation has created an 'Emerging Leader Award'. It recognises outstanding early-career researchers who combine scientific excellence with meaningful engagement in ME/CFS or related post-infectious diseases. The application deadline is 15th October 2026. 15 Aug 2026 07:28 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt45kgjm4b2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mszplsfkrm2x1) 🇦🇹 Interesting study that tested brain blood flow and metabolites under experimentally induced hypoxia (they gave ME/CFS patients less oxygen while lying under the MRI scanner). The idea is that this might reveal brain differences during a stressor. 14 Aug 2026 08:12 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mszplsfkrm2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3msx7tjbrfu251) Unfortunately, another negative result for immunoadsorption for Long Covid. A small trial that focused only on patients with elevated levels of antibodies against β1/β2-adrenergic and/or M3/M4-muscarinic acetylcholine receptors found no improvement in objective outcomes. 13 Aug 2026 08:25 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3msx7tjbrfu25https://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3msunsjcdfn2x1) 🇺🇸 A new paper in Nature shows that viral reactivation is common in COVID-19, associated with severity and not primarily a consequence of immunosuppression. The association with Long Covid, however, was far from clear. 12 Aug 2026 07:57 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3msunsjcdfn2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/mecfsscience.org/post/3mspn5odrkk2u1) 🇨🇦 Disappointing to see that McMaster University is sponsoring a trial of the Lightning Process for Long Covid. The study isn't blinded and only uses subjective outcomes such as fatigue questionnaires so its results will be biased by expectations and therapist instructions 10 Aug 2026 08:02 +0000at://did:plc:ith7dzcppw7ru2enoauywkld/app.bsky.feed.post/3mspn5odrkk2u