Beyond “Just Tired”: Scientists Unveil New Blood Test To Crack Chronic Fatigue Mystery

Most

people these days can relate to one feeling, ‘chronic tiredness.’ No matter what you do, you always feel lethargic, exhausted and just tired. And for many years, people were also told that this chronic tiredness roots from psychological exhaustion. But now the dialogue may have changed a little bit thanks to the scientists who have devised a new blood test that might help prove the reason for constant lethargy. Researchers have developed a new type of blood test that can diagnose something called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), aka, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and this test is said to be 96% accurate, set to be a breakthrough in identifying a condition that has been misunderstood since years.

The study was titled Development and validation of blood-based diagnostic biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) using EpiSwitch® 3-dimensional genomic regulatory immuno-genetic profiling and its findings were published in the Journal of Translational Medicine by scientists from the University of East Anglia and Oxford Biodynamics.

Why is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) so difficult to trace?

ME/CFS is a chronic illness that presents itself as multi-system affecting millions worldwide. This illness is characterised by brain fog, overwhelming fatigue, post-exertional malaise and immune dysfunction. And interestingly, despite its lingering effect, there has been no single diagnostic test that can diagnose it. This forces the doctors to rely solely on symptoms and exclude other illnesses. As a result of this, many patients have so long been misdiagnosed or left untreated for years.

How does the ME/CFS blood test work?

The team of researchers used EpiSwitch® 3D Genomics technology for the study, which helps analyse how DNA folds inside the cells. This is more like examining how a long string code of loops and knots itself to control which genes to turn off or on. Instead of focusing on genetic mutations, this method tracks epigenetic changes, which are shifts in gene regulation caused by immune or environmental factors.The study included studying blood samples from 47 severe ME/CFS patients and other 61 healthy individuals. The researchers mapped unique 3D DNA folding patterns that distinguish those who suffer from the illness. As per the reports of the study, the model achieved 92 per cent sensitivity (correctly identifying patients with ME/CFS) and 98 per cent specificity.