Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is one of the most perplexing conditions out there. It affects up to 1 million Americans and as much as 2.6 percent of the global population, often triggering exhaustion so severe that patients can’t work or study.
But for decades, researchers have struggled to find an underlying cause, leading to an assumption by many doctors that it’s ‘not a real disease’. Now, Australian researchers have blown that myth wide open, showing for the first time that CFS is linked to a faulty cell receptor in immune cells.
“This discovery is great news for all people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and the related Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), as it confirms what people with these conditions have long known – that it is a ‘real’ illness – not a psychological issue,” said Leeanne Enoch, the Science Minister of Queensland – the Australian state that’s supporting the research.
“CFS and ME are notoriously difficult to diagnose, with sufferers often going for years without getting the proper care and attention they need.”
Not only is this the first research to show how the faulty cell receptor causes the immune system changes seen in CFS/ME, it also offers researchers a long-sought-after target for future treatments and tests.
It was two years ago that the US officially listed CFS/ME as a disease, but there’s still no way to test for the disease, and no effective treatment.
In fact, the two most commonly prescribed treatments for the condition are cognitive behavioural therapy and exercise, neither of which have any evidence to support they work – and many feel could actually be doing more harm than good.
Now, the latest study shows the disease actually has a serious cell receptor dysfunction at its core. …>>Read More
Source: Science Alert
