Fatigue and basal ganglia, 2001, Chaudhuri & Behan

[ME/CFS Science Blog]

Abstract​

Fatigue is a common symptom in neurology and occurs in the diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. In order to understand the mechanism of fatigue, it is important to distinguish symptoms of peripheral neuromuscular fatigue from the symptoms of physical and mental fatigue characteristic of disorders like Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis. We have introduced and defined the concept of central fatigue for the latter disorders. We have further proposed, with supportive neuropathological data, that central fatigue may occur due to a failure in the integration of the limbic input and the motor functions within the basal ganglia affecting the striatal-thalamic-frontal cortical system.

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11054483/

 

[ME/CFS Science Blog]

The reason for posting this is that there are some genetic links (potentially) pointing to striatal neurons in ME/CFS namely the (eccentric) medium spiny neurons. See:

Post in thread 'Eccentric medium spiny neuron (eMSN)'

Today at 12:00 PM

I've written a blog post that summarizes some of the findings on cell type and tissue enrichment that have been posted on the forum. It also zooms in on (eccentric) medium spiny neurons. Hope I've managed to do this with sufficient caveats.

Cell and tissue enrichment in ME/CFS - ME/CFS Science

By matching DNA results with gene expression databases researchers can determine the tissues and cellContinue readingCell and tissue enrichment in ME/CFS

mecfsscience.org

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[ME/CFS Science Blog]

They also mention this hypothesis in a 2004 Lancet review that they wrote. Perhaps they can be discussed together on the same thread.

Abhijit Chaudhuri, Peter O Behan, 2004. Fatigue in neurological disorders
Abstract
Chronic fatigue is a typical symptom of neurological diseases, and is most disabling in multiple sclerosis, postpoliomyelitis, poststroke, and in chronic fatigue syndrome. Disorders of neuromuscular junction transmission and metabolic diseases cause muscle fatigability, which is characterised by failure to sustain the force of muscle contraction (peripheral fatigue). Fatigue is also seen in diseases that affect the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems (central fatigue). Enhanced perception of effort and limited endurance of sustained physical and mental activities are the main characteristics of central fatigue. Metabolic and structural lesions that disrupt the usual process of activation in pathways interconnecting the basal ganglia, thalamus, limbic system, and higher cortical centre are implicated in the pathophysiological process of central fatigue. A state of pre-existing relative hypocortisolaemia might sensitise the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to development of persistent central fatigue after stress. The contributions of physiological, cognitive, and affective changes underlying fatigue are variable, and treatment is largely symptomatic and rehabilitative.

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15043967/