Neurology of ME/CFS

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Progressive Brain Changes Six-year Longitudinal MRI Study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients (2016) Source: J Magnetic Res Imaging.[1] License: CC-BY-NC-4.0 https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.25283

Brain imaging[edit | edit source]

Grey and white matter differences in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A voxel-based morphometry study (2018) Source: Finkelmeyer et al. NeuroImage: Clinical 17 pp.24-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2017.09.024
Reduced Activation in Basal Ganglia Structures in CFS compared to Controls for the Win-Lose Contrast.[2]
Source: Miller et al. (2014). PLoS ONE 9(5): e98156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098156

Spine[edit | edit source]

Neural strain[edit | edit source]

In a study of neuromuscular strain in ME/CFS, 60 people with ME/CFS and 20 healthy controls randomly were assigned to undergo a neuromuscular strain maneuver or sham maneuver. Those with ME/CFS in the strain condition group had significantly increased symptoms for up to 24 hours.[3]

Causes of neurological symptoms[edit | edit source]

Sketch of a brain with words inside saying intracranial hypertension, impaired cerebral blood flow, hyperventilation/hypocapnia, and adrenergic hyperactivity.
Key neurological pathomechanisms in ME/CFS are intracranial hypertension, impaired cerebral blood flow, hyperventilation/hypocapnia, and adrenergic hyperactivity.

Source:
Wirth, K.J., Scheibenbogen, C. & Paul, F. An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. J Transl Med 19, 471 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-03143-3

Causes of neurological symptoms in ME/CFS include:

These can explain cognitive impairment, brain fog, headache, psychomotor slowing, ataxia and loss of coordination of movements, hypersensitivity, sleep disturbances and dysautonomia.[4]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

  • 2021, An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome[4] - (Full text)

Talks and interviews[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Researchers[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Shan, ZY; Kwiatek, R; Burnet, R; Del Fante, P; Staines, DR; Marshall-Gradisnik, SM; Barnden, LR (April 28, 2016), "Progressive brain changes in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: A longitudinal MRI study", Journal of magnetic resonance imaging: JMRI, doi:10.1002/jmri.25283, PMID 27123773
  2. Finkelmeyer, Andreas; He, Jiabao; Maclachlan, Laura; Watson, Stuart; Gallagher, Peter; Newton, Julia L.; Blamire, Andrew M. (2018), "Grey and white matter differences in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – A voxel-based morphometry study", NeuroImage: Clinical, 17: 24-30, doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2017.09.024, PMID 29021956
  3. Violand, Richard L.; Thompson, Carol B.; Moni, Malini; Marden, Colleen L.; Jasion, Samantha E.; Lauver, Megan; Fontaine, Kevin R.; Rowe, Peter C. (July 18, 2016). "Neuromuscular Strain Increases Symptom Intensity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". PLOS ONE. 11 (7): e0159386. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159386. ISSN 1932-6203.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Wirth, Klaus J.; Scheibenbogen, Carmen; Paul, Friedemann (November 22, 2021). "An attempt to explain the neurological symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome". Journal of Translational Medicine. 19 (1): 471. doi:10.1186/s12967-021-03143-3. ISSN 1479-5876. PMC 8607226. PMID 34809664.
  5. "77. ME & the brain, part 1 / ME & de hersenen, deel 1 - Dr. Neil Harrison". YouTube. Wetenschap voor Patienten - ME/cvs Vereniging. April 5, 2016.
  6. "78. ME & the brain, part 2 / ME & de hersenen, deel 2 - Dr. Neil Harrison". YouTube. Wetenschap voor Patienten - ME/cvs Vereniging. April 19, 2016.
  7. Harrison, Neil (May 3, 2016). "79. ME & inflammation, part 1 / ME & inflammatie, deel 1 - Dr Harrison". YouTube. Wetenschap voor Patienten - ME/cvs Vereniging.
  8. "ME/CFS Involves Brain Inflammation: Results from a Ramsay Pilot Study". YouTube. SolveCFS. December 14, 2018.
  9. Johnson, Cort (July 25, 2016). "Laggard: Is an Under-Active Brain the Problem in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)". Health Rising. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  10. Chapman, Suzy (2017). "Reference List of Neurology studies - ME CFS 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  11. Johnson, Cort (September 24, 2018). "Brain on Fire: Widespread Neuroinflammation Found in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)". Health Rising. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  12. "Brain Imaging and Behavior publication from Dr. Jarred Younger's SMCI Ramsay pilot study supports involvement of neuroinflammation in ME/CFS". go.solvecfs.org. Retrieved January 17, 2019.