Five indicators evidence a biological basis for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a debilitating condition, persistently afflicts sufferers with an array of symptoms, including extreme exhaustion, muscle and joint pain, and sleep disorders. The condition is often met with skepticism, as friends, family, and even medical professionals often dismiss the symptoms as psychosomatic.
To address this, researchers from the US National Institutes of Health conducted a study in 2016 to determine the biological basis of CFS. After selecting 217 individuals with the syndrome and subsequently reducing the group to 17, the participants underwent a week-long battery of tests. These included brain scans, sleep studies, cognitive performance tests, muscle strength assessments, skin and muscle biopsies, blood tests, examinations of the gut microbiome, and spinal fluid analysis. Strict dietary requirements and time spent in a metabolic chamber further enabled the scientists to measure their energy and nutrient consumption.
Upon the completion of these rigorous assessments, the study unequivocally confirmed that CFS is "unambiguously biological." Participants with CFS demonstrated higher resting heart rates, indicators of an overactive and prolonged immune response, lower gut bacteria diversity, reduced catechols in cerebrospinal fluid, and decreased activity in the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) of the brain during motor tasks.
This reduced activity in the TPJ, an area crucial for driving the motor cortex, can alter the brain's exertion dynamics and perception of fatigue, making activities more challenging and quickly depleting energy. Consequently, a person with CFS may perceive even routine tasks as exerting undue effort and causing increased fatigue.
Neurologist Avindra Nath, the study's lead researcher and clinical director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), stated, "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a systemic disease, and its sufferers deserve to have their experiences taken seriously."
The study underscores the importance of addressing the biological underpinnings of CFS and encourages renewed efforts to develop effective treatment options and diagnostic criteria to combat the condition's stigma.
Additionally, research suggests that some natural solutions, such as optimizing thyroid function, supplementing CoQ10, and adopting a graded exercise program, can help manage the symptoms of CFS. For more information on these and other holistic approaches, visit Peak Natural.
Sources:
- Landmark Study Confirms Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is 'Unambiguously Biological' - Science Alert
- NIH Study Provides Long-Awaited Insight Into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - JAMA Medical News
- The study by researchers from the US National Institutes of Health in 2016 has confirmed that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is "unambiguously biological," implying a need for attention to the condition's biological underpinnings for effective treatment and diagnostics.
- The biological basis of CFS, as revealed by the study, includes an overactive immune response, lower gut bacteria diversity, reduced catechols in cerebrospinal fluid, and decreased activity in the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ) of the brain during motor tasks, which can affect the perception of fatigue and energy levels.
- Holistic approaches, such as optimizing thyroid function, supplementing CoQ10, and adopting a graded exercise program, can help manage the symptoms of CFS, demonstrating the role of wellness and health-and-wellness practices in dealing with chronic diseases like CFS and mental-health conditions like CFS.
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