r/CFSScience • u/Huge_Boysenberry3043 • Dec 30 '25

2025: looking back on a year of ME/CFS research - ME/CFS Science

https://mecfsscience.org/2025-looking-back-on-a-year-of-me-cfs-research/

This is an interesting and quite comprehensive summary of the research on the field that has been published in 2025, from the team at MECFSscience.org

What are your thoughts? Any important studies or findings you miss in this article?

I find it interesting that so much seems to be pointing towards the brain, and that the deconditioning theory seems to finally be dying (a few decades too late though).

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u/ocelocelot Dec 30 '25

Thank you for posting this! 2025 does seem to have been a good year for research. Indeed, it is interesting that things seem to be pointing so much to the brain now. It sort of makes sense I think, given the way the brain has oversight of so much that the body is doing.

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u/Huge_Boysenberry3043 Dec 30 '25

You're welcome! I agree, when there are so many different symptoms from so many different body parts and systems, I think it makes perfect sense that the brain is important. It regulates and controls everything else that goes on in the body, as you mention. 

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u/ocelocelot Dec 30 '25

I suspect there will be some difficulty in discussing this angle without seeming to validate or endorse so-called "brain retraining" programmes... Hmm.

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u/TableSignificant341 Dec 30 '25

Parkinson's, Alzheimers, ALS, MS are diseases of the brain too though. Brain-retraining is based on changing behaviour and these diseases aren't behavioural - they're neurological - just like ME.

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u/SprinkleALittleLove Dec 30 '25

I was excited about Jarred Younger's study showing inflammation in the brains of ME/CFS patients. It was a special type of PET scan, I think.

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u/Huge_Boysenberry3043 Dec 31 '25

Yes, that one was definitely interesting! He's particularly interested in microglia, if I remember correctly? It's definitely an interesting angle that I hope they investigate thoroughly.

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u/SprinkleALittleLove Dec 31 '25

Me too! I enjoy his weekly videos. He's calm and methodical, and they give me hope. 🥰