A review paper from Dr Karl Morten’s team has highlighted that “complex chronic illnesses” ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) not only have common symptoms such as fatigue and pain but also display “significant overlap in the molecular and cellular disruptions” including:
- Dysregulation in the complex biochemical processes that involve the synthesis, breakdown, and utilisation of fat molecules in the body (dysregulated lipid metabolism)
- A build up of highly reactive oxygen molecules generated in the process of energy production (oxidative stress).
- Impairments in the process of generating energy in the body (impaired energy metabolism)
According to the researchers, although these disruptions reflect “widespread dysfunction in fundamental biological processes”, what remains unclear is whether these alterations are “primary drivers of disease or secondary effects resulting in chronic illness”.
While new developments in methods that study small molecules (metabolites) and sets of proteins (proteomes) in the body provide powerful tools to help researchers understand these disease mechanisms and what causes them, “addressing these complex challenges requires coordinated international efforts and substantial financial support”.
Despite this, ME/CFS research remains chronically underfunded globally, and in England “There are currently no plans to allocate additional funding towards the ME/CFS final delivery plan.” DHSC
