In a First, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Linked to The Brain's Clearing System

Australian researchers have linked chronic fatigue syndrome to impaired function of the brain's waste clearance system for the first time, according to a study published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. Neuroimmunologist Kiran Thapaliya of Griffith University said the study is the first to demonstrate impaired glymphatic function in myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) using MRI, providing a mechanistic explanation for inflammatory changes reported by other teams. Thapaliya said dysfunction in the brain's natural cleaning system may be a key driver of the condition. Researchers scanned the brains of 31 participants with ME/CFS and 27 healthy controls using a non-invasive MRI technique that estimates glymphatic function by measuring cerebrospinal fluid diffusion rates. They found reduced glymphatic function only in the right hemisphere of patients. The study authors noted this hemispheric asymmetry has been reported in temporal lobe epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Greater glymphatic dysfunction in the right hemisphere correlated with worse sleep issues and impaired concentration. Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, director of the National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith, said the scans reinforce the notion that sleep plays a critical role in maintaining brain health. She added that researchers hope the results pave the way for better diagnosis through non-invasive procedures and future treatments. The findings are preliminary and cannot explain why dysfunction occurs only in the right hemisphere or how it drives symptoms.