Scientists have identified thousands of genes which appear to play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
A team from Glasgow University found a particular pattern of genetic activity among 50 people with the condition.
They hope their work, which is still in its early stages, could lead to a diagnostic test and new treatments.
CFS – or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) – used to be dismissed as “yuppie flu” and has been widely recognised as a disease only in recent years.
Lead researcher Dr John Gow said: “We have identified genes which were up-regulated compared with genes in normal healthy individuals, suggesting we could possibly have a diagnostic test for this syndrome which doesn’t exist at the moment.”
Colleagues at the same university are also looking at targeting treatments towards the faulty biochemical pathways caused by the overactive genes in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Reference – BBC News, The ME association
