Chronic Fatigue Syndome Research

Both the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have research programs to fund chronic fatigue syndome studies. Researchers are focusing on doing more long-term studies with people with chronic fatigue syndome, to look at changes in chronic fatigue syndome symptoms over short- and long-time periods. The neuroendocrine system, which is involved in how the body reacts to stress, is also being studied. The role of hormones, cytokines in particular, in the body may also provide clues about how the body responds to stress, as well as chronic fatigue syndome. Studies are also being done to look for the presence of infectious agents in people with chronic fatigue syndome, and how the body responds to these agents.

Researchers are looking at how disturbed sleep and pain reactions affect chronic fatigue syndome. Some experts think that disrupted sleep may cause many of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndome. Others think that women may experience pain differently than men, as well as have different reactions to drugs. CFS-related depression caused by disturbed sleep is also being studied. And, research into fatigue is being done, which may help develop better approaches to dealing with fatigue.