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) The results of RECOVER-NEURO are in!
It tested:
- computerized cognitive training
- cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation
- transcranial direct current stimulation
but no intervention showed significant improvement compared to a control group that did video puzzles and games.
It tested:
- computerized cognitive training
- cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation
- transcranial direct current stimulation
but no intervention showed significant improvement compared to a control group that did video puzzles and games.
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
1) The results of RECOVER-NEURO are in!
It tested:
- computerized cognitive training
- cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation
- transcranial direct current stimulation
but no intervention showed significant improvement compared to a control group that did video puzzles and games.
It tested:
- computerized cognitive training
- cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation
- transcranial direct current stimulation
but no intervention showed significant improvement compared to a control group that did video puzzles and games.
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Some in mental health are really bending backwards to dig up myths and pseudoscience to discredit complex physical illness and to claim it is, actually, psychological.
1) 🇨🇦 Problematic letter in the Canadian journal BCMJ, stating:
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
November 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Some in mental health are really bending backwards to dig up myths and pseudoscience to discredit complex physical illness and to claim it is, actually, psychological.
1) A new study by the group of Benjamin Natelson reports abnormal breathing patterns in ME/CFS patients during an exercise test.
42% met the criteria for dysfunctional breathing compared to 16% in controls.
42% met the criteria for dysfunctional breathing compared to 16% in controls.
November 10, 2025 at 9:08 AM
1) A new study by the group of Benjamin Natelson reports abnormal breathing patterns in ME/CFS patients during an exercise test.
42% met the criteria for dysfunctional breathing compared to 16% in controls.
42% met the criteria for dysfunctional breathing compared to 16% in controls.
1) Interesting letter in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.
It argues that Long Covid is a heterogeneous disease, so we need outcome measures that can assess multiple aspects reliably.
Otherwise, we risk falsely concluding that a treatment didn't work.
It argues that Long Covid is a heterogeneous disease, so we need outcome measures that can assess multiple aspects reliably.
Otherwise, we risk falsely concluding that a treatment didn't work.
November 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
1) Interesting letter in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.
It argues that Long Covid is a heterogeneous disease, so we need outcome measures that can assess multiple aspects reliably.
Otherwise, we risk falsely concluding that a treatment didn't work.
It argues that Long Covid is a heterogeneous disease, so we need outcome measures that can assess multiple aspects reliably.
Otherwise, we risk falsely concluding that a treatment didn't work.
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
This is a very deft thread. A concise precis of our conversation on conservatism, capitalism, and disability
Thank you @mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
#MECFS #LongCovid @davetuller1.bsky.social
Thank you @mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
#MECFS #LongCovid @davetuller1.bsky.social
1) Interesting interview of Prof. Brian Hughes by David Tuller.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
November 7, 2025 at 10:18 PM
This is a very deft thread. A concise precis of our conversation on conservatism, capitalism, and disability
Thank you @mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
#MECFS #LongCovid @davetuller1.bsky.social
Thank you @mecfsskeptic.bsky.social
#MECFS #LongCovid @davetuller1.bsky.social
1) 🇨🇦 Problematic letter in the Canadian journal BCMJ, stating:
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
November 9, 2025 at 8:34 AM
1) 🇨🇦 Problematic letter in the Canadian journal BCMJ, stating:
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
"Patients with fibromyalgia and ME/CFS have a high proportion of childhood physical abuse, emotional neglect, and sexual trauma. This trauma contributes to profound attachment disruptions..."
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
Some psychobabble that we haven't recently seen in the ME/CFS field, in a Canadian medical journal:
bcmj.org/sites/defaul...
Again claims therapies can lead to recovery, like from CBT/GET proponents, without solid evidence they even lead to objective improvement!
#MEcfs #CFS #PwME
bcmj.org/sites/defaul...
Again claims therapies can lead to recovery, like from CBT/GET proponents, without solid evidence they even lead to objective improvement!
#MEcfs #CFS #PwME
November 7, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Some psychobabble that we haven't recently seen in the ME/CFS field, in a Canadian medical journal:
bcmj.org/sites/defaul...
Again claims therapies can lead to recovery, like from CBT/GET proponents, without solid evidence they even lead to objective improvement!
#MEcfs #CFS #PwME
bcmj.org/sites/defaul...
Again claims therapies can lead to recovery, like from CBT/GET proponents, without solid evidence they even lead to objective improvement!
#MEcfs #CFS #PwME
1) New preprint from the Stanford group of Ron Davis.
They looked for 185 human viruses, and found traces of 17 viruses in patients or controls. "Surprisingly", the authors write "more viruses were found in the healthy controls than in the ME/CFS patients."
They looked for 185 human viruses, and found traces of 17 viruses in patients or controls. "Surprisingly", the authors write "more viruses were found in the healthy controls than in the ME/CFS patients."
November 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
1) New preprint from the Stanford group of Ron Davis.
They looked for 185 human viruses, and found traces of 17 viruses in patients or controls. "Surprisingly", the authors write "more viruses were found in the healthy controls than in the ME/CFS patients."
They looked for 185 human viruses, and found traces of 17 viruses in patients or controls. "Surprisingly", the authors write "more viruses were found in the healthy controls than in the ME/CFS patients."
1) There's a new Medscape article on the ME/CFS treatment trials discussed at the IACFS/ME conference.
- Nacul is testing LDN in Canada
- Scheibenbogen is pursuing immunoadsorption in Germany
- Fluge is trialing daratumumab in Norway
- Sato is testing rituximab again in Japan
- Nacul is testing LDN in Canada
- Scheibenbogen is pursuing immunoadsorption in Germany
- Fluge is trialing daratumumab in Norway
- Sato is testing rituximab again in Japan
November 8, 2025 at 8:36 AM
1) There's a new Medscape article on the ME/CFS treatment trials discussed at the IACFS/ME conference.
- Nacul is testing LDN in Canada
- Scheibenbogen is pursuing immunoadsorption in Germany
- Fluge is trialing daratumumab in Norway
- Sato is testing rituximab again in Japan
- Nacul is testing LDN in Canada
- Scheibenbogen is pursuing immunoadsorption in Germany
- Fluge is trialing daratumumab in Norway
- Sato is testing rituximab again in Japan
Reposted by ME/CFS Science
for those interested in immune diseases, this is a super interesting diagram (see post below)
source : pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
source : pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
1) Interesting figure showing where immune cells are located in the human body (mostly in the bone marrow and lymphatic system).
November 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
for those interested in immune diseases, this is a super interesting diagram (see post below)
source : pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
source : pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
1) Interesting figure showing where immune cells are located in the human body (mostly in the bone marrow and lymphatic system).
November 7, 2025 at 8:31 AM
1) Interesting figure showing where immune cells are located in the human body (mostly in the bone marrow and lymphatic system).
1) Interesting interview of Prof. Brian Hughes by David Tuller.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 AM
1) Interesting interview of Prof. Brian Hughes by David Tuller.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
In his new book Hughes argues that psychology is not woke but that its methods are essentially conservative because it focuses on an individualistic view and ignores social context.
1) A new study looked at symptom exacerbations for 8 days after a 20-minute sub-maximal exercise test and compared ME/CFS and Long Covid patients with controls.
Changes were greatest in ME/CFS patients and in the first 3 days after exercise.
Changes were greatest in ME/CFS patients and in the first 3 days after exercise.
November 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
1) A new study looked at symptom exacerbations for 8 days after a 20-minute sub-maximal exercise test and compared ME/CFS and Long Covid patients with controls.
Changes were greatest in ME/CFS patients and in the first 3 days after exercise.
Changes were greatest in ME/CFS patients and in the first 3 days after exercise.
1) Slide from Maya Dusenbery's presentation at the Canadian ME/CFS Conference yesterday.
She is the author of 'Doing Harm', a book that explores how women’s health has long been overlooked and dismissed within the medical system.
She is the author of 'Doing Harm', a book that explores how women’s health has long been overlooked and dismissed within the medical system.
November 5, 2025 at 8:22 AM
1) Slide from Maya Dusenbery's presentation at the Canadian ME/CFS Conference yesterday.
She is the author of 'Doing Harm', a book that explores how women’s health has long been overlooked and dismissed within the medical system.
She is the author of 'Doing Harm', a book that explores how women’s health has long been overlooked and dismissed within the medical system.
1) 🇦🇺 Interesting interview with molecular biologist Dr Daniel Missailidis.
He has been conducting ME/CFS research since 2016 at at La Trobe University, focusing on the intersection of energy metabolism and immune dysfunction.
He has been conducting ME/CFS research since 2016 at at La Trobe University, focusing on the intersection of energy metabolism and immune dysfunction.
November 3, 2025 at 9:20 AM
1) 🇦🇺 Interesting interview with molecular biologist Dr Daniel Missailidis.
He has been conducting ME/CFS research since 2016 at at La Trobe University, focusing on the intersection of energy metabolism and immune dysfunction.
He has been conducting ME/CFS research since 2016 at at La Trobe University, focusing on the intersection of energy metabolism and immune dysfunction.
For patients with Long Covid: you can now participate in a remote treatment trial of tirzepatide (a GLP-1 inhibitor also known as zepbound).
The study is organized by Scripps Research and aims to enroll 1000 participants.
The study is organized by Scripps Research and aims to enroll 1000 participants.
November 3, 2025 at 8:15 AM
For patients with Long Covid: you can now participate in a remote treatment trial of tirzepatide (a GLP-1 inhibitor also known as zepbound).
The study is organized by Scripps Research and aims to enroll 1000 participants.
The study is organized by Scripps Research and aims to enroll 1000 participants.
Looks like this trial actually showed that HBOT likely doesn't work in ME/CFS.
They excluded 7/37 participants who dropped out
They do not compare results to a control group
Participants received 40 sessions
And still, the improvement was only 6.3 points on the SF-36 PF scale
They excluded 7/37 participants who dropped out
They do not compare results to a control group
Participants received 40 sessions
And still, the improvement was only 6.3 points on the SF-36 PF scale
1) 🇩🇪 A new preprint by the Charité group reports improvements after 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 30 ME/CFS patients.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
November 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Looks like this trial actually showed that HBOT likely doesn't work in ME/CFS.
They excluded 7/37 participants who dropped out
They do not compare results to a control group
Participants received 40 sessions
And still, the improvement was only 6.3 points on the SF-36 PF scale
They excluded 7/37 participants who dropped out
They do not compare results to a control group
Participants received 40 sessions
And still, the improvement was only 6.3 points on the SF-36 PF scale
1) 🇩🇪 A new preprint by the Charité group reports improvements after 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 30 ME/CFS patients.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
November 2, 2025 at 8:53 AM
1) 🇩🇪 A new preprint by the Charité group reports improvements after 40 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in 30 ME/CFS patients.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
However, there was no control group, and the improvements were far from impressive.
1) 🇬🇧 The research team of Sarah Tyson has developed a Clinal Needs Assessment tool for ME/CFS patients.
It's basically a list of check-box items to help patients and their clinical teams identify and better understand patients’ needs as part of a clinical assessment process.
It's basically a list of check-box items to help patients and their clinical teams identify and better understand patients’ needs as part of a clinical assessment process.
November 1, 2025 at 10:16 AM
1) 🇬🇧 The research team of Sarah Tyson has developed a Clinal Needs Assessment tool for ME/CFS patients.
It's basically a list of check-box items to help patients and their clinical teams identify and better understand patients’ needs as part of a clinical assessment process.
It's basically a list of check-box items to help patients and their clinical teams identify and better understand patients’ needs as part of a clinical assessment process.
This Medscape article by Myrian Tucker gives a summary of several presentations at the IACFS/ME meeting.
Wormgoor et al. presented an update to her systematic review on physical activity interventions for ME/CFS. Of 17 trials, only one used a case definition that required PEM.
Wormgoor et al. presented an update to her systematic review on physical activity interventions for ME/CFS. Of 17 trials, only one used a case definition that required PEM.
October 31, 2025 at 3:24 PM
This Medscape article by Myrian Tucker gives a summary of several presentations at the IACFS/ME meeting.
Wormgoor et al. presented an update to her systematic review on physical activity interventions for ME/CFS. Of 17 trials, only one used a case definition that required PEM.
Wormgoor et al. presented an update to her systematic review on physical activity interventions for ME/CFS. Of 17 trials, only one used a case definition that required PEM.
1) Researchers tested an new in-ear device to estimate blood flow to the brain.
In an ME/CFS patient blood flow decreased by 23% after an exercise test compared to only 5% in the healthy control participant.
In an ME/CFS patient blood flow decreased by 23% after an exercise test compared to only 5% in the healthy control participant.
October 31, 2025 at 3:01 PM
1) Researchers tested an new in-ear device to estimate blood flow to the brain.
In an ME/CFS patient blood flow decreased by 23% after an exercise test compared to only 5% in the healthy control participant.
In an ME/CFS patient blood flow decreased by 23% after an exercise test compared to only 5% in the healthy control participant.
1) ME Research UK (MERUK) has made this useful overview of funding opportunities for ME/CFS researchers in the UK.
It includes a lot of info about preparing an application and involving patients and carers.
It includes a lot of info about preparing an application and involving patients and carers.
October 30, 2025 at 2:30 PM
1) ME Research UK (MERUK) has made this useful overview of funding opportunities for ME/CFS researchers in the UK.
It includes a lot of info about preparing an application and involving patients and carers.
It includes a lot of info about preparing an application and involving patients and carers.
1) Had a brief look at this preprint by David Putrino's group.
It's a case series that reports improvement after IMC-2: a combination of the antiviral Valacyclovir and the anti-inflammatory drug Celecoxib.
It's a case series that reports improvement after IMC-2: a combination of the antiviral Valacyclovir and the anti-inflammatory drug Celecoxib.
October 30, 2025 at 8:27 AM
1) Had a brief look at this preprint by David Putrino's group.
It's a case series that reports improvement after IMC-2: a combination of the antiviral Valacyclovir and the anti-inflammatory drug Celecoxib.
It's a case series that reports improvement after IMC-2: a combination of the antiviral Valacyclovir and the anti-inflammatory drug Celecoxib.
1) More excellent work by the WE&ME Foundation.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
October 30, 2025 at 7:42 AM
1) More excellent work by the WE&ME Foundation.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
They have created ME/CFS fellowships: 6-month research stays with funding of up to € 40,000.
The call is co-funded by the WWTF (a big non-profit in Vienna dedicated to research and science) and has a total budget of € 200.000.
1) Reading this review on fatigue in other diseases: it's notable how it manifests early in the illness (often before diagnosis), how it's often poorly explained (correlates poorly with pathology markers), yet is reported to be one of the most disabling symptoms.
October 29, 2025 at 9:17 AM
1) Reading this review on fatigue in other diseases: it's notable how it manifests early in the illness (often before diagnosis), how it's often poorly explained (correlates poorly with pathology markers), yet is reported to be one of the most disabling symptoms.