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| Chronic fatigue is not in your head, it's in your blood - experts | Chronic fatigue is not in your head, it's in your blood - experts |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| People with ME - or chronic fatigue syndrome - have major differences in their blood compared with healthy individuals, experts are suggesting. | People with ME - or chronic fatigue syndrome - have major differences in their blood compared with healthy individuals, experts are suggesting. |
| University of Edinburgh researchers said their findings could pave the way for a "game-changer" diagnostic test. | University of Edinburgh researchers said their findings could pave the way for a "game-changer" diagnostic test. |
| Prof Chris Ponting said: "For so long people with ME/CFS have been told it's all in their head. It's not. We see it in their blood." | Prof Chris Ponting said: "For so long people with ME/CFS have been told it's all in their head. It's not. We see it in their blood." |
| However some critics of the study said researchers had "overstated" the significance of their work. | However some critics of the study said researchers had "overstated" the significance of their work. |
| The study used data from the UK Biobank – a health database of over half a million people – to compare 1,455 ME/CFS patients with 131,000 healthy individuals. | The study used data from the UK Biobank – a health database of over half a million people – to compare 1,455 ME/CFS patients with 131,000 healthy individuals. |
| The research showed the results were mostly unaffected by activity levels. | The research showed the results were mostly unaffected by activity levels. |
| The university team said the volume and consistency of the blood differences support their long-term goal of developing a diagnostic blood test. | The university team said the volume and consistency of the blood differences support their long-term goal of developing a diagnostic blood test. |
| Researcher Dr Sjoerd Beentjes told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "One thing that our evidence points at is that ME is very much a condition in the blood. | Researcher Dr Sjoerd Beentjes told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: "One thing that our evidence points at is that ME is very much a condition in the blood. |
| "Perhaps previously held perspectives are not quite the case. | "Perhaps previously held perspectives are not quite the case. |
| "It is really not due to inactivity and we hope that this helps with problems where individuals are disbelieved of their symptoms." | "It is really not due to inactivity and we hope that this helps with problems where individuals are disbelieved of their symptoms." |
| What are the symptoms of ME? | What are the symptoms of ME? |
| ME stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis and is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). | ME stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis and is also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). |
| The largest ever biological study of ME/CFS - which is estimated to affect 50,000 people in Scotland - identified consistent blood differences associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and liver disease. | The largest ever biological study of ME/CFS - which is estimated to affect 50,000 people in Scotland - identified consistent blood differences associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and liver disease. |
| The main feature of the condition is post-exertional malaise (PEM) - a delayed and dramatic worsening of fatigue that comes after minor physical or mental effort. | |
| Other symptoms include pain, brain fog and tiredness that does not improve with rest. Causes are unknown and there is currently no diagnostic test or cure. | Other symptoms include pain, brain fog and tiredness that does not improve with rest. Causes are unknown and there is currently no diagnostic test or cure. |
| Dr Beentjes also said ME was a "female bias" condition with the ratio of patients estimated to be 3:1. | Dr Beentjes also said ME was a "female bias" condition with the ratio of patients estimated to be 3:1. |
| Some experts have criticised the University of Edinburgh research | Some experts have criticised the University of Edinburgh research |
| The Edinburgh researchers examined more than 3,000 blood-based biomarkers and accounted for differences in age, sex, and activity levels. | The Edinburgh researchers examined more than 3,000 blood-based biomarkers and accounted for differences in age, sex, and activity levels. |
| The results were replicated afterwards using data from the US | The results were replicated afterwards using data from the US |
| Prof Chris Ponting, of the university's MRC human genetics unit, said: "For so long people with ME/CFS have been told it's all in their head. | Prof Chris Ponting, of the university's MRC human genetics unit, said: "For so long people with ME/CFS have been told it's all in their head. |
| "It's not. We see people's ME/CFS in their blood. | "It's not. We see people's ME/CFS in their blood. |
| He said the evidence should "dispel any lingering perception that ME/CFS is caused by deconditioning and exercise intolerance". | He said the evidence should "dispel any lingering perception that ME/CFS is caused by deconditioning and exercise intolerance". |
| However, some experts have criticised the study. | However, some experts have criticised the study. |
| Alan Carson, professor in neuropsychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, said the researchers overstated the significance of their work. | Alan Carson, professor in neuropsychiatry at the University of Edinburgh, said the researchers overstated the significance of their work. |
| Prof Carson said: "If one wants to ask is ME/CFS a figment of the imagination, then this study shows it is not. | Prof Carson said: "If one wants to ask is ME/CFS a figment of the imagination, then this study shows it is not. |
| "However, to claim blood biomarker differences prove that a condition is 'not all in your head' fails to appreciate that both physical and mental illness can show similar types of results." | "However, to claim blood biomarker differences prove that a condition is 'not all in your head' fails to appreciate that both physical and mental illness can show similar types of results." |
| Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: "I think this is an important piece of research, but it's also important to be careful not to claim too much from its findings. | Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: "I think this is an important piece of research, but it's also important to be careful not to claim too much from its findings. |
| "There's a lot more to do." | "There's a lot more to do." |