Dysautonomia Awareness Month
During October, ME Research UK marked Dysautonomia Awareness Month. Dysautonomia encompasses conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system, such as PoTS, orthostatic hypotension and vasovagal syncope. Individuals with ME/CFS often report debilitating dysautonomia-related symptoms which add an extra layer of challenge to daily life.
As part of Dysautonomia Awareness Month, ME Research UK also marked PoTS Awareness Day and explored orthostatic intolerance as part of the ongoing Symptom Saturday series.
Symptom Saturday: core symptoms
Over the past two months, through our Symptom Saturday series, we have extensively explored the core symptoms of ME/CFS, including gathering and sharing information about lived experiences. The series is far from over, and we are now looking at additional symptoms of the disease. But we thought it would be useful to collate the postings into accessible articles for ease and sharing purposes.
Research: altered lipid metabolism in ME/CFS
Dr Daniel Missailidis and the team at La Trobe University led by Dr Sarah Annesley have recently published evidence of altered lipid metabolism in ME/CFS. Acknowledging the support of ME Research UK, the researchers reported that, compared with healthy controls, cells from people with ME/CFS contained more fats. Furthermore, these fats were more saturated, meaning they could pack more tightly together in cell membranes. This may lead to issues with cell signalling, but more research is needed to explore this further.
Research: DNA methylation in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia
Prof. Andrea Polli and Jolien Hendrix from Vrije Universiteit Brussel are co-first authors of a new paper, acknowledging funding from ME Research UK, which looks at whether patterns of DNA methylation in the blood are linked to a person’s diagnosis, and severity and type of symptoms. DNA methylation is a chemical marking system that helps regulate how cells use genes. This study identified two patterns: one that could differentiate between ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, and one that appeared to link to the pain-related symptoms associated with both diseases.
Thank you, fundraisers
Thank you so much to our new fundraisers this month. Alex is walking 2,000 steps a day for a month to get to 46,000 steps, which is equivalent to the height of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ollie Goddard is participating in the Run South London event in March 2027, a new route through South London’s parks, streets and iconic landmarks. Fiona Crisp, whose daughter has ME/CFS, is fundraising with her initiative ‘Me time for ME’. Faye Dobbin participated in the Altra Yorkshire Marathon on 18th October with the impact of ME on sister Beth’s running career featuring on BBC sport online. ME Foggy Dog is a social enterprise that supports ME Research UK through ‘BED for Severe ME’, an annual awareness day on 29th October.
It is only thanks to our supporters that we can continue to inform, influence and invest in biomedical research into ME/CFS globally. Without your help, our research projects simply would not be funded. Why not get involved today?
Article: intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia treatment
This month, we reported on a newly published protocol for a study investigating the effectiveness of a treatment called intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia treatment (IHHT) for ME/CFS. IHHT is a non-invasive procedure in which a person alternates breathing air with low oxygen levels (hypoxic) and high oxygen levels (hyperoxic). This is thought to replicate some of the effects of altitude training, such as increased production of healthy mitochondria, effective elimination of damaged mitochondria, and more efficient oxygen transport and uptake. It is worth noting that this is an early-phase trial, and that all participants with ME/CFS will be female, which limits the generalisability of any findings.
Other topics explored in October include a study investigating how muscle problems in ME/CFS relate to symptoms in other body systems, an article discussing the measurement of hormones in ME/CFS and long COVID, and a review of the stress-hormone system in ME/CFS.
MyCharity Mobile: support ME Research UK with your mobile plan at no extra cost to you
We have a new partnership with MyCharity Mobile, which means that if you sign up to a monthly mobile plan, they will donate 15% of your monthly mobile spend to ME Research UK at no extra cost to you. Sign up today and choose us as your designated charity.
Christmas cards now on sale
Our 2026 collection of Christmas cards is now on sale but Snowy Walk and Christmas Jumpers already sold out..
There are six designs available in our online shop, and you can also buy them via email, phone or post. Every purchase helps to support our work investing in ME research.
Help us make the breakthrough
We know that, as a subscriber to our newsletter and someone who is interested in our work, you join us in the belief that only robust scientific research is the key to understanding ME/CFS.
Donations from our valued supporters are vital if we are to continue our work to inform, influence and invest in ME/CFS research globally.
