Scientists have seen the difference between chronic fatigue syndrome in men and women

Women “suffer more from chronic fatigue syndrome,” according to the largest ever study of the disease. A new study on myalgic encephalomyelitis, sometimes referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, aims to learn more about the condition and how it can be treated. Initial results suggest that this syndrome affects women to a greater extent.

Not only are women much more likely to suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, but women are also more likely to have more symptoms and associated conditions that are more severe, according to initial results from the largest study of the disease in history.

So far, more than 17,000 people in the UK have been enrolled in the DecodeME study with a diagnosis of ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), sometimes referred to as chronic fatigue syndrome, according to Sky News.

The researchers intend to study 20,000 DNA samples from this growing group to see if myalgic encephalomyelitis is partly genetic. This can not only point to treatments, but also help dispel the hoax of a neglected and often maligned disease.

“For a long time, people didn’t even really believe in the existence of this disease,” says study lead author Professor Chris Ponting of the University of Edinburgh. to help people eventually find a cure, but also to debunk some really harmful stereotypes.”

More than 250,000 people in the UK are estimated to have myalgic encephalomyelitis. This disease leads to debilitating and persistent emaciation in patients, which is exacerbated by normal levels of exercise.

But chronic fatigue syndrome also causes a wide range of other symptoms, such as brain fog, muscle pain, and even slurred speech. Many people stay at home or are bedridden because of their illness.

Of the study participants at the moment, more than 83% are women, emphasizes Sky News.

Women in the study were also significantly more likely to have one or more conditions associated with their myalgic encephalomyelitis, such as irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, or anemia, than men.

By combining these findings with the genetic data they are collecting, the researchers hope to gain insight into why myalgic encephalomyelitis affects different groups of people, how it affects different groups of people, and what its potential triggers might be.

Many cases of chronic fatigue syndrome, for example, are preceded by some kind of infection, a similar phenomenon is observed in people with a long course of COVID.

Initial results, Prof. Ponting says, suggest that their genetic analyzes will need to treat men and women differently.

The gender bias may also point to why myalgic encephalomyelitis has been neglected for so long, despite the fact that the disease has affected so many people.

For other diseases, there is strong evidence that there is less research and cure for diseases that affect women, Sky News notes.

“The real bottom line of this is that for many years people working with myalgic encephalomyelitis have been really stigmatized and mistreated,” says Sonia Chowdhury, executive director of Action for ME. The charity coordinated the recruitment for the study and hopes this first large-scale investigation will change the way we think about chronic fatigue syndrome.

“Having basic data and basic science means that researchers are more likely to take the disease seriously,” says Ms Chowdhury. “We must be shocked that for decades there has been no investment in research.”

According to Sky News, Pippa Stacy was first diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis at the age of 19 and now blogs and campaigns about her condition. She filmed giving her DNA sample to DecodeME for research and shared it with her 14,500 Instagram followers to encourage others to do the same.

“Knowing that there is work of this magnitude underway is a huge thing in itself,” she says. “I feel some hope that there is something to strive for.”