Collating Brain Research in ME

[Trish]

The aim of this thread is to collect a list of brain imaging studies of ME patients, with links to threads on each study.

We have in our library a thread by @Woolie that explains the different types of neuroimaging and what to look out for in assessing the quality of a study:
Brain Studies of MECFS: A Primer

This post will be used to add to the list as new research is published.

To discuss the individual studies, go to its own thread. Please add any more to this thread and I will add them to this list.
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PET
Neuroinflammation in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An 11C-(R)-PK11195 PET Study by Yasuhito Nakatomi et al,
Paper here Thread here

Brain Science on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2018, Watanabe.
Abstract here Thread here
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MRI
Autonomic correlations with MRI are abnormal in the brainstem vasomotor centre in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2016 by Barnden et al.
Paper here

Elevations of Ventricular Lactate Levels Occur in Both Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia, 2017, by Natelson et al.
Paper here

Hyperintense sensorimotor T1 spin echo MRI is associated with brainstem abnormality in chronic fatigue syndrome, 2018, Barnden et al.
Paper here Thread here

Prefrontal Structure Varies as a Function of Pain Symptoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2018, van der Schaaf et al.
Paper here Thread here

Right Arcuate Fasciculus Abnormality in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2014, Zeineh, Montoya et al
Paper here Thread here

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sMRI

Structural brain changes versus self-report: machine-learning classification of CFS patients, 2018, Staud et al
Paper here Thread here
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fMRI

Brain function characteristics of chronic fatigue syndrome: A task fMRI study, 2018, et al.
Paper here Thread here

Neural consequences of post-exertion malaise in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2017, Cook et al.
Paper here Thread here

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Proton MRS

Increased ventricular lactate in chronic fatigue syndrome. III. Relationships to cortical glutathione and clinical symptoms implicate oxidative stress in disorder pathophysiology, 2012, Shungu et al
Paper here

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of basal ganglia in chronic fatigue syndrome, 2003, Chaudhury et al.
Paper here

Relative increase in choline in the occipital cortex in chronic fatigue syndrome, 2002, Puri et al.
Paper here

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MRS

Evidence of widespread metabolite abnormalities in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: assessment with whole-brain magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 2019, Younger et al.
Paper here Thread here
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SPECT

Brainstem perfusion is impaired in chronic fatigue syndrome, 1995, by Costa et al.
Paper here
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Other types of imaging

Brain abnormalities in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: Evaluation by diffusional kurtosis imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, 2018, Kimura et al.
Paper here Thread here
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Review papers

Neuroinflammation and Cytokines in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS): A Critical Review of Research Methods, 2019, Van Elzakker et al.
Paper here Thread here
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Other lists of brain studies in ME

Reference list compiled in 2017 by Suzy Chapman and Mary Dimmock here
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[Trish]

The idea for this thread came from a Twitter thread created by Dr Mark Guthridge who listed 10 brain studies and said a bit about each.

 

[ME/CFS Skeptic]

This might be of interest: Suzy Chapman and Mary Dimmock have collated this reference list of neurological studies. It was used to argue that ME and CFS should remain listed as a neurological disease in the WHO classification. https://www.dropbox.com/s/u0ynbse2xb2hao6/Reference List of Neurology studies ME CFS 2017.pdf

 

[Trish]

Thanks @Michiel Tack.

 

[Peter T]

Thank you @Trish a very useful thread.

I will follow up on the links when able to.

I am particularly interested in working out what of our cognitive problems relate to generalised reversible neurological issues such as brain inflammation or reduced oxygen supply and what if any relate to focal irreversible neurological damage. What is transient, analogous to such as the effects of being tired or being drunk and what if anything is permenant, analogous to the effects of a CVA or such as Alzheimer's?

For example in MS, during an acute episode, there is general 'inflammation' (?) which largely resolves, but can leave some less widespread permenant neurological damage (in this case demyelination).

 

[Hutan]

Resting-state functional connectivity, cognition, and fatigue in response to cognitive exertion: a novel study in adolescents with CFS (2019) Josev

Modulatory effects of cognitive exertion on regional functional connectivity of the salience network in women with ME/CFS: A pilot study, 2021, Manca