In the News

07 May, 2024

Griffith University Researchers To Trial Naltrexone On Long COVID Patients

Jayden Donald went from a fit and healthy teenager who rode his horses almost every day, to being so sick he could hardly sit up after his second bout of COVID-19. A year later, the 19-year-old talented equestrian has only recently returned to university and to the competitive dressage arena after being diagnosed with long COVID. "I was flat out walking," the University of Southern Queensland engineering student says at his family's picturesque property at Haigslea, about 50 kilometres west of Brisbane. "You go from going to uni every day, seeing your mates, having a bit of fun, and saying, 'oh I want to go for dinner at the pub one night' to 'oh, I can't, I'm stuck at home'.'"

07 May, 2024

Mediterranean Diet Improves Pain, QoL In Patients With Fibromyalgia

Patients with fibromyalgia receiving a personalized Mediterranean diet reported improvements in both pain and quality of life, according to a study published in Pain and Therapy. Conversely, those who ate fewer calories but chose more inflammatory foods and/or foods with an imbalanced nutritional content did not experience these benefits. “Diet can cause inflammation,” wrote a team of investigators led by Ilenia Casini, PhD, associated with the Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Italy. “Inflammatory conditions of the digestive system can trigger the release of cytokines, which can have effects on the central nervous system…Dietary interventions are used to treat many diseases, as a healthy diet improves physical fitness, mental health and cognitive abilities.”

06 May, 2024

Avindra Nath – Demystifying exhaustion

Dr. Avindra Nath, clinical director of the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, has always been interested in viruses. He completed his neurology training during the AIDS epidemic, a formative experience that left him fascinated by how viruses interact with the nervous system. This year, that interest yielded a historic study—perhaps the most extensive ever conducted—on a long-ignored and mysterious condition: myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

06 May, 2024

People Have Been Searching For POTS Diagnoses And Treatment For Decades. The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Bringing Them Hope

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS, is a chronic illness impacting the nervous system that debilitates many around the Northwoods. Research and interest in the condition has expanded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. WXPR spoke with a resident of Minocqua about her experiences trying to find the right care.

05 May, 2024

Scientists Identify New Brain Circuit In Mice That Controls Body's Inflammatory Reactions

The brain can direct the immune system to an unexpected degree, capable of detecting, ramping up and tamping down inflammation, shows a new study in mice from researchers at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute.

05 May, 2024

Jaime Seltzer – Postviral Patient Advocate

For years, U.S. medical schools barely taught their students about myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic condition that affects up to 2.5 million people in the U.S., which can develop after routine viral illnesses and causes debilitating exhaustion. Jaime Seltzer—a trained scientist who developed ME/CFS in 2014 and now works as the scientific director for the advocacy group #MEAction—is working to change that.

05 May, 2024

ME/CFS And Long COVID Experts Crash Time’s List Of 100 Most Influential Health Leaders: It’s Another ME/CFS Moment

Time magazine has been publishing its list of Top 100 most influential people on the planet for over 20 years. Four years ago it added Health and other other categories to the list. Time said it spent months consulting sources and experts around the world to select the 100 most influential individuals in the world of health right now. One would expect to see pioneers in cancer, heart disease, dengue fever, and Alzheimer’s pick up awards, and they do. These are diseases that are well entrenched in the medical infrastructure. Then there are the outsiders. Long COVID is still a baby in the medical research field and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) could probably get an award for the most well-known but least well-funded disease on the planet. Long COVID and ME/CFS awardees, though, didn’t just crack the Top 100 – people associated with them made up about 5% of the awardees. That was a surprise and it makes the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health in 2024 awards an easy ME/CFS and long-COVID moment; i.e. a sign that things are turning for the better for both these diseases.

04 May, 2024

Science Friday: May 3, 2024

Science Friday is live from Ames, Iowa, home to prairies, greater prairie chickens, and an array of wildlife. Plus, the co-emergence of two periodical cicada broods is underway. Scientists have tips for how to experience the event. And, as the “Universe of Art” podcast turns one, listeners discuss solar music boxes and what it’s like making art with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

04 May, 2024

Australia’s State And Services Are Trapping A Woman Living With Severe ME/CFS In Domestic Abuse

A woman living with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in Australia is desperately appealing for help to leave an abusive household. The neglect and abuse the Australian state, healthcare system, disability, and domestic violence support services have routinely subjected her to has created a perfect storm – trapping her in this indefensible situation. Her appalling and increasingly life-threatening circumstances underscores the systemic failure of services and support for both ME/CFS and domestic violence.

04 May, 2024

Well-Being Coach Living With Chronic Illness To Host Book Event

A UK well-being and creativity coach who is living with a condition which causes widespread pain and extreme tiredness is hosting an event to help others in similar positions. Amanda Mckinley has self-published her first book after being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 15 years ago. The promotional event will take place on May 11 in Paisley Central Library - the day before National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. It will feature her book ‘How I Became a Butterfly - Creative Tools for Coping with Life and Chronic Illness’ as a tool for raising awareness and understanding.