Latest news with #JackieCliff
Canada News.Net
2 days ago
- Health
- Canada News.Net
Chronic fatigue gene study hailed as breakthrough in UK research
LONDON, U.K.: A significant new study from the University of Edinburgh has found genetic differences in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, offering the strongest evidence yet that the condition has a biological basis. The research, part of the DecodeME project, identified eight regions of the genome that differ between individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and those without. The team says the findings help counter long-standing misconceptions that ME/CFS is psychological or caused by laziness. The results offer "the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person's chance of developing the disease," the researchers said in a statement. ME/CFS affects an estimated 67 million people globally and is characterized by extreme fatigue, cognitive impairment ("brain fog"), and worsening symptoms after even mild physical or mental exertion. There is currently no diagnostic test or cure. The study analyzed DNA samples from 15,579 people who self-reported ME/CFS symptoms and 259,909 people without, all of European ancestry. Researchers found that several gene variants were more common in the ME/CFS group, particularly those linked to the immune and nervous systems. At least two of the regions are tied to the body's response to infection—supporting reports that ME/CFS symptoms often follow an infectious illness. Another region has been linked to chronic pain, which is also common among people with the condition. "These results will not mean that a test or cure will be developed straight away, but they will lead to a greater understanding," said researcher Andy Devereux-Cooke. "They should prove game-changing in the ME/CFS research field." While the study has not yet been peer-reviewed, it has been hailed as a milestone by patients and scientists alike. Some experts noted limitations, particularly the reliance on self-reported cases rather than formal clinical diagnoses. They called for larger follow-up studies to confirm the findings. "This will take considerable investment in academia and by industry," said Dr. Jackie Cliff, an ME/CFS researcher at Brunel University of London, adding that more work is needed to turn the findings into treatments.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
UK scientists find genes linked with chronic fatigue syndrome
London: Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said on Wednesday they have discovered differences in the DNA of people with chronic fatigue syndrome that should help dispel the notion that the debilitating condition is psychological or driven by laziness. Their study found eight areas of genetic code that are different in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) than in healthy volunteers. The finding provides "the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person's chance of developing the disease," the researchers said in a statement. The key features of the condition include worsening of fatigue, pain and brain fog after even minor physical or mental activity. Very little has been known about the causes of ME/CFS, and there is no diagnostic test or cure. The condition is believed to affect around 67 million people worldwide, the researchers said. The DecodeME study analyzed DNA samples from 15,579 people who reported having chronic fatigue on a questionnaire and 259,909 people without it, all of European descent. Gene variants that were more common in people reporting ME/CFS were linked to the immune and nervous systems, according to a report of the study that has not yet been peer-reviewed. At least two of the gene regions relate to how the body responds to infection, which aligns with reports that the symptoms often start after an infectious illness, the researchers said. Another gene region has previously been identified in people with chronic pain, another common symptom of the condition. The findings "align with decades of patients reporting on their experiences," researcher Andy Devereux-Cooke said in a statement, adding that they "should prove game changing in the ME/CFS research field." "These results will not mean that a test or cure will be developed straight away, but they will lead to a greater understanding," he said. Scientists who were not involved in the study said using volunteers who self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome rather than restricting participation to those with a diagnosis from a medical professional somewhat weakened its conclusions. They called for larger studies to replicate the results. Substantial work will be necessary "to translate these findings into new treatments," said Dr. Jackie Cliff, who studies infection and immunity in ME/CFS at Brunel University of London. "This will take considerable investment in academia and by industry."
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
UK scientists find genes linked with chronic fatigue syndrome
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh said on Wednesday they have discovered differences in the DNA of people with chronic fatigue syndrome that should help dispel the notion that the debilitating condition is psychological or driven by laziness. Their study found eight areas of genetic code that are different in people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) than in healthy volunteers. The finding provides 'the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a person's chance of developing the disease,' the researchers said in a statement. The key features of the condition include worsening of fatigue, pain and brain fog after even minor physical or mental activity. Very little has been known about the causes of ME/CFS, and there is no diagnostic test or cure. The condition is believed to affect around 67 million people worldwide, the researchers said. The DecodeME study analyzed DNA samples from 15,579 people who reported having chronic fatigue on a questionnaire and 259,909 people without it, all of European descent. Gene variants that were more common in people reporting ME/CFS were linked to the immune and nervous systems, according to a report of the study that has not yet been peer-reviewed. At least two of the gene regions relate to how the body responds to infection, which aligns with reports that the symptoms often start after an infectious illness, the researchers said. Another gene region has previously been identified in people with chronic pain, another common symptom of the condition. The findings 'align with decades of patients reporting on their experiences,' researcher Andy Devereux-Cooke said in a statement, adding that they "should prove game changing in the ME/CFS research field.' 'These results will not mean that a test or cure will be developed straight away, but they will lead to a greater understanding," he said. Scientists who were not involved in the study said using volunteers who self-reported chronic fatigue syndrome rather than restricting participation to those with a diagnosis from a medical professional somewhat weakened its conclusions. They called for larger studies to replicate the results. Substantial work will be necessary 'to translate these findings into new treatments," said Dr. Jackie Cliff, who studies infection and immunity in ME/CFS at Brunel University of London. "This will take considerable investment in academia and by industry.' —Reuters
