ME/CFS Science
@mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
In-depth analysis of research on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Formerly known as ME/CFS Skeptic.
https://mecfsscience.org/
https://mecfsscience.org/
4) Autonomic dysfunction was quantified in the QASAT-score. It summarizes objective tests such as deep breathing, the Valsalva maneuver, head-up tilt testing, a sweat gland test,... etc.
ME/CFS and LC patients had a mean score around 4, while the scale goes from 0 to 22.
ME/CFS and LC patients had a mean score around 4, while the scale goes from 0 to 22.
January 30, 2026 at 8:43 AM
4) Autonomic dysfunction was quantified in the QASAT-score. It summarizes objective tests such as deep breathing, the Valsalva maneuver, head-up tilt testing, a sweat gland test,... etc.
ME/CFS and LC patients had a mean score around 4, while the scale goes from 0 to 22.
ME/CFS and LC patients had a mean score around 4, while the scale goes from 0 to 22.
1) Peter Novak's dysautonomia clinic in Boston reports that ME/CFS and Long Covid patients have increased rates of:
- reduced cerebral blood flow (ca 90%)
- small fiber neuropathy (ca 50%)
- postural tachycardia (ca 20%) and hypotension (ca 15%)
- preload failure (ca 90%)
- reduced cerebral blood flow (ca 90%)
- small fiber neuropathy (ca 50%)
- postural tachycardia (ca 20%) and hypotension (ca 15%)
- preload failure (ca 90%)
January 30, 2026 at 8:43 AM
1) Peter Novak's dysautonomia clinic in Boston reports that ME/CFS and Long Covid patients have increased rates of:
- reduced cerebral blood flow (ca 90%)
- small fiber neuropathy (ca 50%)
- postural tachycardia (ca 20%) and hypotension (ca 15%)
- preload failure (ca 90%)
- reduced cerebral blood flow (ca 90%)
- small fiber neuropathy (ca 50%)
- postural tachycardia (ca 20%) and hypotension (ca 15%)
- preload failure (ca 90%)
4) ME/CFS has code G93.3 in the ICD-10. When using this code, there was no clear relationship: the people with EBV detectable in their blood were actually less likely to have ME/CFS, although the difference was not statistically significant.
January 29, 2026 at 6:09 PM
4) ME/CFS has code G93.3 in the ICD-10. When using this code, there was no clear relationship: the people with EBV detectable in their blood were actually less likely to have ME/CFS, although the difference was not statistically significant.
1) A new publication in Nature found that approximately 10% of people in the UK biobank have DNA of the Epstein-Barr virus in their blood and that this is associated with various autoimmune (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) and respiratory diseases such as COPD.
January 29, 2026 at 6:09 PM
1) A new publication in Nature found that approximately 10% of people in the UK biobank have DNA of the Epstein-Barr virus in their blood and that this is associated with various autoimmune (lupus, rheumatoid arthritis) and respiratory diseases such as COPD.
7) The graphs below show the main effects in the female cohorts: the healthy controls stay about the same during the second test but ME/CFS and Long Covid patients decline. It appears that they are unable to reproduce the same values from the first test.
January 28, 2026 at 8:43 AM
7) The graphs below show the main effects in the female cohorts: the healthy controls stay about the same during the second test but ME/CFS and Long Covid patients decline. It appears that they are unable to reproduce the same values from the first test.
1) Todd Davenport and his colleagues from the Workwell foundation published new data on 2-day exercise testing in patients with Long Covid.
These showed reductions in workload and VO2 max on the second test, similar to ME/CFS patients.
These showed reductions in workload and VO2 max on the second test, similar to ME/CFS patients.
January 28, 2026 at 8:42 AM
1) Todd Davenport and his colleagues from the Workwell foundation published new data on 2-day exercise testing in patients with Long Covid.
These showed reductions in workload and VO2 max on the second test, similar to ME/CFS patients.
These showed reductions in workload and VO2 max on the second test, similar to ME/CFS patients.
7) There were also ME/CFS-specific differences in connectivity (see the table below) but we found these quite hard to interpret. The authors write: "A comparison of HCs with pwME/CFS revealed involvement of vermis, and nodes of the salience and the default mode networks."
January 27, 2026 at 8:19 AM
7) There were also ME/CFS-specific differences in connectivity (see the table below) but we found these quite hard to interpret. The authors write: "A comparison of HCs with pwME/CFS revealed involvement of vermis, and nodes of the salience and the default mode networks."
1) 🇦🇺 Australian researchers measured connectivity between brain regions during a cognitive task. They put healthy controls, ME/CFS patients and Long Covid patients in a powerful 7 Tesla MRI scanner.
The controls showed increased connectivity, while the patients did not.
The controls showed increased connectivity, while the patients did not.
January 27, 2026 at 8:19 AM
1) 🇦🇺 Australian researchers measured connectivity between brain regions during a cognitive task. They put healthy controls, ME/CFS patients and Long Covid patients in a powerful 7 Tesla MRI scanner.
The controls showed increased connectivity, while the patients did not.
The controls showed increased connectivity, while the patients did not.
1) "...While studies on biopsychosocial factors in physiologic disorders like POTS can be informative, they can also be weaponized by those who continue to erroneously believe that patients with POTS have abnormal behavioral, emotional and coping mechanisms..."
January 26, 2026 at 8:18 AM
1) "...While studies on biopsychosocial factors in physiologic disorders like POTS can be informative, they can also be weaponized by those who continue to erroneously believe that patients with POTS have abnormal behavioral, emotional and coping mechanisms..."
4) They also advocated for ME/CFS at the political level, resulting in several meetings with the German Government on ME/CFS research.
Good to see their income increase over time, most coming from direct donations.
Good to see their income increase over time, most coming from direct donations.
January 25, 2026 at 9:06 AM
4) They also advocated for ME/CFS at the political level, resulting in several meetings with the German Government on ME/CFS research.
Good to see their income increase over time, most coming from direct donations.
Good to see their income increase over time, most coming from direct donations.
1) This graph from the German ME/CFS Research Foundation shows the ca. €4 million in funding they collected since 2022 and how they've spent the money.
Administrative costs are borne by the founder, so pretty much all donations go to ME/CFS research.
Administrative costs are borne by the founder, so pretty much all donations go to ME/CFS research.
January 25, 2026 at 9:05 AM
1) This graph from the German ME/CFS Research Foundation shows the ca. €4 million in funding they collected since 2022 and how they've spent the money.
Administrative costs are borne by the founder, so pretty much all donations go to ME/CFS research.
Administrative costs are borne by the founder, so pretty much all donations go to ME/CFS research.
1) A follow-up study of more than 2000 Long Covid patients at the University College London Hospitals shows that only one-third achieved satisfactory recovery (>75% of best health).
Rather disappointing results.
Rather disappointing results.
January 21, 2026 at 8:56 AM
1) A follow-up study of more than 2000 Long Covid patients at the University College London Hospitals shows that only one-third achieved satisfactory recovery (>75% of best health).
Rather disappointing results.
Rather disappointing results.
6) The main results are given in Table 2 below. There was more methylation in the OPRM1 gene in patients than controls but the difference was only slightly significant and the study does not seem to correct for multiple comparisons.
January 19, 2026 at 9:04 AM
6) The main results are given in Table 2 below. There was more methylation in the OPRM1 gene in patients than controls but the difference was only slightly significant and the study does not seem to correct for multiple comparisons.
1) 🇧🇪 A small Belgian study reports that patients with ME/CFS and FM might have abnormalities in the opioid system.
They found that the opioid receptor genes were more often methylated, suggesting that these patients might be less sensitive to this type of pain relief.
They found that the opioid receptor genes were more often methylated, suggesting that these patients might be less sensitive to this type of pain relief.
January 19, 2026 at 9:03 AM
1) 🇧🇪 A small Belgian study reports that patients with ME/CFS and FM might have abnormalities in the opioid system.
They found that the opioid receptor genes were more often methylated, suggesting that these patients might be less sensitive to this type of pain relief.
They found that the opioid receptor genes were more often methylated, suggesting that these patients might be less sensitive to this type of pain relief.
1) Reminder: the Horizon Europe work program for 2026-2027 includes a call on post-infection long-term conditions. It has a budget of 6-8 million per project and seems ideally suited for ME/CFS and Long Covid research.
The opening date is 10 February 2026.
The opening date is 10 February 2026.
January 18, 2026 at 8:30 AM
1) Reminder: the Horizon Europe work program for 2026-2027 includes a call on post-infection long-term conditions. It has a budget of 6-8 million per project and seems ideally suited for ME/CFS and Long Covid research.
The opening date is 10 February 2026.
The opening date is 10 February 2026.
1) Solve ME/CFS (@PlzSolveCFS) has made an overview of researchers who were supported by a Ramsay grant and went on to win millions of research funding from other institutions.
So, the support of Solve might have acted like a stepping stone to bigger grants.
So, the support of Solve might have acted like a stepping stone to bigger grants.
January 17, 2026 at 8:50 AM
1) Solve ME/CFS (@PlzSolveCFS) has made an overview of researchers who were supported by a Ramsay grant and went on to win millions of research funding from other institutions.
So, the support of Solve might have acted like a stepping stone to bigger grants.
So, the support of Solve might have acted like a stepping stone to bigger grants.
1) From the new NIAID vision:
"The NIAID will foster research to better understand long-term post-infectious and non-infectious inflammatory syndromes, such as long COVID, chronic Lyme disease, myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and adverse events after vaccination"
"The NIAID will foster research to better understand long-term post-infectious and non-infectious inflammatory syndromes, such as long COVID, chronic Lyme disease, myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and adverse events after vaccination"
January 16, 2026 at 4:15 PM
1) From the new NIAID vision:
"The NIAID will foster research to better understand long-term post-infectious and non-infectious inflammatory syndromes, such as long COVID, chronic Lyme disease, myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and adverse events after vaccination"
"The NIAID will foster research to better understand long-term post-infectious and non-infectious inflammatory syndromes, such as long COVID, chronic Lyme disease, myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and adverse events after vaccination"
7) The most striking result, however, was found by zooming out: pretty much all lipids were increased in ME/CFS cells. The graph below shows lipid classes (circles for unsaturated and triangles for saturated
lipids). Those above the dashed line (most) were increased in ME/CFS.
lipids). Those above the dashed line (most) were increased in ME/CFS.
January 16, 2026 at 9:23 AM
7) The most striking result, however, was found by zooming out: pretty much all lipids were increased in ME/CFS cells. The graph below shows lipid classes (circles for unsaturated and triangles for saturated
lipids). Those above the dashed line (most) were increased in ME/CFS.
lipids). Those above the dashed line (most) were increased in ME/CFS.
6) In the analysis of lipids, the most notable result was a strong reduction in PC(O-38:4), an ether lipid that plays a role in the cell's outer layer. There was an almost perfect separation between the ME/CFS and control group for this measurement.
January 16, 2026 at 9:22 AM
6) In the analysis of lipids, the most notable result was a strong reduction in PC(O-38:4), an ether lipid that plays a role in the cell's outer layer. There was an almost perfect separation between the ME/CFS and control group for this measurement.
5) These pathways were mostly highlighted because pyridoxal, thiamine, and cholesterol sulphate were increased in ME/CFS patients (data shown in Figure 1 below). These were exploratory findings.
January 16, 2026 at 9:22 AM
5) These pathways were mostly highlighted because pyridoxal, thiamine, and cholesterol sulphate were increased in ME/CFS patients (data shown in Figure 1 below). These were exploratory findings.
1) A small in-depth study found B-cells from ME/CFS patients to have more lipids. The authors write:"To our surprise, ME/CFS LCLs exhibited an accumulation of lipids including fatty acids"
This could indicate a metabolic deficit or differences in B-cell signalling and receptors
This could indicate a metabolic deficit or differences in B-cell signalling and receptors
January 16, 2026 at 9:22 AM
1) A small in-depth study found B-cells from ME/CFS patients to have more lipids. The authors write:"To our surprise, ME/CFS LCLs exhibited an accumulation of lipids including fatty acids"
This could indicate a metabolic deficit or differences in B-cell signalling and receptors
This could indicate a metabolic deficit or differences in B-cell signalling and receptors
5) In cells from ME/CFS patients, the change in current was lower suggesting the TPRM3 aren't working properly. Figure 2 shows the main results, including the currents after ononetin which inhibits TPRM3 channels.
January 15, 2026 at 8:44 AM
5) In cells from ME/CFS patients, the change in current was lower suggesting the TPRM3 aren't working properly. Figure 2 shows the main results, including the currents after ononetin which inhibits TPRM3 channels.
1) 🇦🇺 Australian researchers claim they have found a "robust biomarker" for ME/CFS, namely a dysfunction of an ion channel in Natural Killer cells.
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of limitations to the study.
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of limitations to the study.
January 15, 2026 at 8:44 AM
1) 🇦🇺 Australian researchers claim they have found a "robust biomarker" for ME/CFS, namely a dysfunction of an ion channel in Natural Killer cells.
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of limitations to the study.
Unfortunately, there are also a couple of limitations to the study.
1) In a Bulgarian study, 65 ME/CFS and 54 Long Covid patients showed similar immune alterations when compared to healthy controls.
They had lower NK and CD8+ T cells, but increased inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF.
They had lower NK and CD8+ T cells, but increased inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF.
January 14, 2026 at 12:09 PM
1) In a Bulgarian study, 65 ME/CFS and 54 Long Covid patients showed similar immune alterations when compared to healthy controls.
They had lower NK and CD8+ T cells, but increased inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF.
They had lower NK and CD8+ T cells, but increased inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF.
1) In the coming years, we will likely get an answer to a frequently asked question: Is ME/CFS caused by auto-antibodies?
Looking forward to the HLA-results from DecodeME, the Norwegian daratumumab study and sham-controlled trials on immunoadsorption.
Looking forward to the HLA-results from DecodeME, the Norwegian daratumumab study and sham-controlled trials on immunoadsorption.
January 13, 2026 at 8:48 AM
1) In the coming years, we will likely get an answer to a frequently asked question: Is ME/CFS caused by auto-antibodies?
Looking forward to the HLA-results from DecodeME, the Norwegian daratumumab study and sham-controlled trials on immunoadsorption.
Looking forward to the HLA-results from DecodeME, the Norwegian daratumumab study and sham-controlled trials on immunoadsorption.