Brain Science on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2018, Watanabe

John Mac

John Mac

Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Article from the Japanese researcher Watanabe summarising his work.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disease characterized by chronic, profound, disabling, and unexplained fatigue.

A variety of studies have been performed to establish objective biomarkers of the disease, including positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging and neuro-functional imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalogram (MEG).

In this chapter, we summarize the results from PET, MRI, and MEG imaging. Regional cerebral blood flow and glucose utilization rates are decreased in patients with ME/CFS as compared with age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.

Acetyl-L-carnitine uptake into the releasable pool of glutamate and serotonin transporters densities are decreased in a few specific brain regions, mostly in the anterior cingulate in the patients.

Although it is hypothesized that brain inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS, there was no direct evidence of neuroinflammation in patients.

Our recent PET study successfully demonstrated that neuroinflammation is present in widespread brain areas in ME/CFS patients, and is associated with the severity of neuropsychological symptoms.

Evaluation of neuroinflammation in patients with ME/CFS may be essential for understanding the core pathophysiology, as well as for developing objective diagnostic criteria and effective medical treatments for ME/CFS.

By using specific neurological features of these patients such as prefrontal cortical atrophies and the over-guarding phenomenon were found using MRI and functional MRI, respectively.

We here describe related pathophysiological findings and topics in order to aid in the development of future therapies for ME/CFS patients.
Click to expand...

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30416112
 
Although it is hypothesized that brain inflammation is involved in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS, there was no direct evidence of neuroinflammation in patients.

Our recent PET study successfully demonstrated that neuroinflammation is present in widespread brain areas in ME/CFS patients, and is associated with the severity of neuropsychological symptoms.
Click to expand...

Can anyone explain what these contradictory statements mean?
The original article was written in Japanese could this be a translation problem?
 
I wonder how the original text relating to 'the over-guarding phenomenon' would be properly translated?
 
Yes, I imagine that if you were to change "Our recent PET study successfully ..." to "Now however, our recent PET study successfully ..."
 
So to me anyway it’s confusing. Occasionally there is a study cited hear that finds a brain inflammation or a change in brain temperature, but there are also studies finding nine.

It certainly feels like something non-normal is going on in one’s brain; mild headaches, that don’t match up with any normal headache But do track with episodes of more brain fog and greater dysfunction. There was a finding of elwvated brain temperature and some specific, critical brain section, but nothing that would chilling an MRI. Dizziness, tonight is unrelated to any loud sounds, Those seem like brain dysfunction as well.

Is no one looking in the right place? Many studies seem to focus on blood tests, I don’t see any guarantees that whatever is wrong has to be evident in the blood. It’s convenient to test blood, but it doesn’t mean that’s where you dropped your keys.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom