A topic explored in several studies is the relationship between ME/CFS and hand grip strength (a measure of the force exerted by hand muscles when gripping an object). In 2018, Dr Luis Nacul and team demonstrated in a cohort including 272 ME/CFS participants that not only is hand grip strength reduced in individuals with ME/CFS ..read more

An abstract published in the journal “Neurology” details a study carried out using data from the UK biobank on 295 people with “CFS” and 63,133 controls. Regrettably, no description of the diagnostic tool used to define “CFS” was provided. The study team collected self-reported experience of fatigue, and used information from a special type of ..read more

On 25th March 2024 Lord Hunt of Kings Heath laid a written parliamentary question to the Department of Health and Social Care To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the 2021 NICE guidance for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) has been implemented (1) in general, and (2 ..read more

Key points Post exertional malaise (PEM) is often referred to as the cardinal symptom of ME/CFS – and one of four “symptoms for suspecting ME/CFS” in the 2021 NICE guidelines alongside; fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, and cognitive difficulties. PEM is also experienced by some people with long COVID – the 2022 NICE guidelines which ask “What ..read more

Last week, ME Research UK attended, virtually, the “1st International Conference on Clinical and Scientific Advances in ME/CFS and Long COVID” held in Portugal. The conference spanned two days and featured talks by established ME/CFS researchers (several of whom have previously received funding from ME Research UK), as well as discussions with early career researchers ..read more

A frequently discussed topic in ME/CFS research is the heterogeneity of ME/CFS, often referring to symptom differences between individuals, suggestive of diverse disease mechanisms. Disease heterogeneity makes the development of diagnostic tests and treatments more challenging, as a ‘one-size fits all’ approach is unlikely. A recent cross-sectional study explored heterogeneity in ME/CFS with regards to ..read more

The European ME Alliance (EMEA) has produced a lengthy and retailed report based on the online responses of over 11,000 individuals from across Europe (and beyond – in total 44 countries had respondees) and “stands as a first attempt by patient organisations to bring forward information that can be applied by governments in Europe, and ..read more

Dr Elisa Oltra and colleagues at the Catholic University of Valencia in Spain have recently completed their ME Research UK-funded study looking at the link between HERVs (retroviruses contained with the human genome) and the development of ME/CFS. We will report the findings of this research as it is published in the scientific literature in ..read more

The team at ME Research UK is very grateful for all the support which the charity receives from its active fundraisers. At the best of times fundraising can seem a daunting prospect but without your support we could not continue to inform, influence or invest in ME research globally. Our current projects simply would not ..read more

The NIH deep phenotyping study, using a multidisciplinary approach, demonstrates biological differences in people with ME/CFS. Nevertheless, there are valid concerns, such as the small sample size and lack of focus on post-exertional malaise (PEM)  – the cardinal feature of ME/CFS. Also, clearer delineation of direct findings from interpretations is needed. Hopefully, future study phases ..read more