A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences by James Baraniuk considered whether specific markers in cerebrospinal fluid – the colourless body fluid found within the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, differed between:
- People with ME/CFS and people without the disease (controls) before exercise.
- Before and after exercise in people with ME/CFS.
Overall, results were complex, but highlighted that there were indeed differences between the groups investigated indicating both:
- Biological changes in people with ME/CFS compared with controls.
- Biological changes relating specifically to post-exertional malaise (PEM) in people with ME/CFS.
Interestingly, the article was reviewed by Professor Elisa Oltra, who has previously worked on research funded by ME Research UK.
