Brain and muscle chemistry in myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID: a 7T magnetic resonance spectroscopy study.

ABSTRACT: Myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a common debilitating medical condition, whose main symptoms - fatigue, post-exertional malaise and cognitive dysfunction - are also present in many cases of long COVID. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) allows the insight into their pathophysiology through exploration of a range of biochemicals putatively relevant to aetiological processes, in particular mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism. 24 patients with ME/CFS, 25 patients with long COVID and 24 healthy controls (HC) underwent brain (pregenual and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, respectively, pgACC and dACC) and calf muscle MRS scanning at 7 Tesla, followed by a computerised cognitive assessment. Compared to HC, ME/CFS patients had elevated levels of lactate i

SUBMITTER: Godlewska BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12532701 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature