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/
1) "Incorporating PEM into a new conceptual model of long covid cardiac rehabilitation programmes is essential to clinically distinguish it from cardiovascular deconditioning and to safeguard patients from unintended harm"
February 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM
1) "Incorporating PEM into a new conceptual model of long covid cardiac rehabilitation programmes is essential to clinically distinguish it from cardiovascular deconditioning and to safeguard patients from unintended harm"
1) In this old study from 2005, researchers induced catastrophic thinking in their participants and then recorded their pain intensity after immersing their hand in ice water.
Catastrophizing didn't have any influence on pain.
Catastrophizing didn't have any influence on pain.
February 9, 2026 at 1:30 PM
1) In this old study from 2005, researchers induced catastrophic thinking in their participants and then recorded their pain intensity after immersing their hand in ice water.
Catastrophizing didn't have any influence on pain.
Catastrophizing didn't have any influence on pain.
1) A large genetic study of anxiety disorder found 58 independent risk variants. Two of the signals were similar to those of DecodeME in ME/CFS:
- Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) on chromosome 1
- BTN3A2 of the butyrophilin family of genes on chromosome 6
- Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) on chromosome 1
- BTN3A2 of the butyrophilin family of genes on chromosome 6
February 8, 2026 at 3:16 PM
1) A large genetic study of anxiety disorder found 58 independent risk variants. Two of the signals were similar to those of DecodeME in ME/CFS:
- Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) on chromosome 1
- BTN3A2 of the butyrophilin family of genes on chromosome 6
- Neuronal growth regulator 1 (NEGR1) on chromosome 1
- BTN3A2 of the butyrophilin family of genes on chromosome 6
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
This is really interesting, it ties in with my doctor's findings of low cortisol and adrenal dysfunction. I hope this leads somewhere positive for us all x
1) Dr. Felipe Correa da Silva shared more info about the first 10 brain autopsies from the Netherlands.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
February 7, 2026 at 2:24 PM
This is really interesting, it ties in with my doctor's findings of low cortisol and adrenal dysfunction. I hope this leads somewhere positive for us all x
1) Dr. Felipe Correa da Silva shared more info about the first 10 brain autopsies from the Netherlands.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
February 7, 2026 at 1:54 PM
1) Dr. Felipe Correa da Silva shared more info about the first 10 brain autopsies from the Netherlands.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
In this new thread, we made a brief summary of his presentation.
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Fascinating preliminary finding: Correa-da-Silva et al. see a near-complete loss of CRH-neurons in 5 postmortem brain samples of people with #MEcfs, not seen in many controls. A corresponding loss of cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid was also observed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Dk... (7-13mins)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Dk... (7-13mins)
February 7, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Fascinating preliminary finding: Correa-da-Silva et al. see a near-complete loss of CRH-neurons in 5 postmortem brain samples of people with #MEcfs, not seen in many controls. A corresponding loss of cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid was also observed.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Dk... (7-13mins)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Dk... (7-13mins)
1) 🇩🇪 Scientists and clinicians based at institutions located in Germany can apply for the 2026 research funding programme of the ME/CFS Research Foundation.
€2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
€2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
February 7, 2026 at 8:17 AM
1) 🇩🇪 Scientists and clinicians based at institutions located in Germany can apply for the 2026 research funding programme of the ME/CFS Research Foundation.
€2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
€2 million is available for new research projects. The deadline for submitting proposals is 30 April 2026.
1) 🏴 Researchers from Cardiff University followed-up on their findings on complement activation in Long Covid. In this new study, they found differences in the lectin pathway and suggest it might explain endothelial damage and persistent coagulopathy in LC.
February 6, 2026 at 8:59 AM
1) 🏴 Researchers from Cardiff University followed-up on their findings on complement activation in Long Covid. In this new study, they found differences in the lectin pathway and suggest it might explain endothelial damage and persistent coagulopathy in LC.
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
👍👏
1) The Dutch NMCB research consortium held its General Assembly. Researchers of multiple ME/CFS studies reported their current status and findings.
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
February 5, 2026 at 12:44 PM
👍👏
Now published in the journal PLOS One:
Ryback et al. Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Ryback et al. Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
February 5, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Now published in the journal PLOS One:
Ryback et al. Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
Ryback et al. Indistinguishable mitochondrial phenotypes after exposure of healthy myoblasts to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome or control serum.
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...
1) The Dutch NMCB research consortium held its General Assembly. Researchers of multiple ME/CFS studies reported their current status and findings.
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
February 5, 2026 at 9:55 AM
1) The Dutch NMCB research consortium held its General Assembly. Researchers of multiple ME/CFS studies reported their current status and findings.
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
Here are a couple of things that caught our attention...
1) Top AI researchers have developed a new model called 'AlphaGenome' that helps us understand how DNA works and how instructions translate into proteins and biological differences.
This might be useful in understanding the DNA results of DecodeME and the pathology of ME/CFS.
This might be useful in understanding the DNA results of DecodeME and the pathology of ME/CFS.
February 4, 2026 at 9:12 AM
1) Top AI researchers have developed a new model called 'AlphaGenome' that helps us understand how DNA works and how instructions translate into proteins and biological differences.
This might be useful in understanding the DNA results of DecodeME and the pathology of ME/CFS.
This might be useful in understanding the DNA results of DecodeME and the pathology of ME/CFS.
1) A Long Covid clinic in Ohio reports that of the 277 patients studied, 75% had fatigue as a primary or co-primary complaint. Yet only 16% met the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria for ME/CFS.
February 3, 2026 at 9:36 AM
1) A Long Covid clinic in Ohio reports that of the 277 patients studied, 75% had fatigue as a primary or co-primary complaint. Yet only 16% met the Institute of Medicine (IOM) criteria for ME/CFS.
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Not for #MEcfs but for rheumatoid arthritis: Successful clinical trial of vagus nerve-mediated neuroimmune modulation: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
Question asked by Eric Topol and Kevin Tracey is: Can this be successfully applied to other diseases? bsky.app/profile/eric...
Question asked by Eric Topol and Kevin Tracey is: Can this be successfully applied to other diseases? bsky.app/profile/eric...
February 2, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Not for #MEcfs but for rheumatoid arthritis: Successful clinical trial of vagus nerve-mediated neuroimmune modulation: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
Question asked by Eric Topol and Kevin Tracey is: Can this be successfully applied to other diseases? bsky.app/profile/eric...
Question asked by Eric Topol and Kevin Tracey is: Can this be successfully applied to other diseases? bsky.app/profile/eric...
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Right as I was getting sick with Long Covid (still sick with Covid), I felt like my nervous system was on fire for about a day. It was bad enough to wake me up when it started. Interesting to see this theory.
1) Reading this old hypothesis by Michael VanElzakker on how infection of the vagus nerve might cause symptoms similar to ME/CFS.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
February 2, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Right as I was getting sick with Long Covid (still sick with Covid), I felt like my nervous system was on fire for about a day. It was bad enough to wake me up when it started. Interesting to see this theory.
1) Reading this old hypothesis by Michael VanElzakker on how infection of the vagus nerve might cause symptoms similar to ME/CFS.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
February 2, 2026 at 8:46 AM
1) Reading this old hypothesis by Michael VanElzakker on how infection of the vagus nerve might cause symptoms similar to ME/CFS.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
This nerve passes on info about what's happening internally in the body. So an infection there might cause constant and severe sickness symptoms.
1) 🇩🇪 Researchers from Munich tested microcirculation in the eyes of Long Covid patients.
They weren't interested in eyesight, but used the eye to study circulation and endothelial function in the brain. They call it a "accessible surrogate of cerebral microvascular function"
They weren't interested in eyesight, but used the eye to study circulation and endothelial function in the brain. They call it a "accessible surrogate of cerebral microvascular function"
February 1, 2026 at 9:05 AM
1) 🇩🇪 Researchers from Munich tested microcirculation in the eyes of Long Covid patients.
They weren't interested in eyesight, but used the eye to study circulation and endothelial function in the brain. They call it a "accessible surrogate of cerebral microvascular function"
They weren't interested in eyesight, but used the eye to study circulation and endothelial function in the brain. They call it a "accessible surrogate of cerebral microvascular function"
1) Dr. Danilo Buonsenso in the Lancet Infectious Diseases:
"... prevention of infection alone will not be enough to reduce the public health impact of long COVID. Finding a cure for long COVID needs to become a top research and health-care priority."
"... prevention of infection alone will not be enough to reduce the public health impact of long COVID. Finding a cure for long COVID needs to become a top research and health-care priority."
January 31, 2026 at 8:22 AM
1) Dr. Danilo Buonsenso in the Lancet Infectious Diseases:
"... prevention of infection alone will not be enough to reduce the public health impact of long COVID. Finding a cure for long COVID needs to become a top research and health-care priority."
"... prevention of infection alone will not be enough to reduce the public health impact of long COVID. Finding a cure for long COVID needs to become a top research and health-care priority."
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%)
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.
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.
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..."
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Ich freue mich sehr, zwei aufgezeichnete Vorträge - nämlich von @buechnerronja.bsky.social und mir - über die Schäden der Psychologisierung von #LongCovid, #MECFS, #MCAS und #PAIS zu veröffentlichen. 1/3
t.co/oUB8P8zovZ
t.co/oUB8P8zovZ
https://www.viviennematthiesboon.com/biopsychosocial-model-deutsch
t.co
January 24, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Ich freue mich sehr, zwei aufgezeichnete Vorträge - nämlich von @buechnerronja.bsky.social und mir - über die Schäden der Psychologisierung von #LongCovid, #MECFS, #MCAS und #PAIS zu veröffentlichen. 1/3
t.co/oUB8P8zovZ
t.co/oUB8P8zovZ
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.