Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Isabella Cueto
Published on 2024-02-21 10:00:37
Alison Sbrana’s life changed in the midst of an opera. She was playing the flute in the orchestra pit when she began to feel the Hulk pulling on the tendons in her neck. Despite the strain she was under, she continued to play, feeling like she was on the verge of a perpetual flu. It was then that she contracted infectious mononucleosis, or mono, as a college student. The illness began to consume her life, causing her to reevaluate her career path in music.
A decade later, after a long battle of uncertainty and misdiagnosis, Sbrana discovered she was suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This disease, often occurring after an infection, leads to a persistent and overwhelming feeling of fatigue, along with headaches, body pain, and dizziness. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 4.3 million American adults reported having ME/CFS in 2022, with new pockets of patients emerging during various times in history, most recently following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite the debilitating impact of ME/CFS on the lives of patients, there is not enough scientific understanding of the condition, and there is currently no treatment available. This lack of knowledge has resulted in ME/CFS being dismissed as a women’s condition, often with patients being told that their symptoms were psychosomatic. However, advances in research have helped to establish ME/CFS as a disease with distinct biological markers.
A new and rigorous study from the National Institutes of Health provides detailed analyses of the biological hallmarks of ME/CFS. This groundbreaking study, published in Nature Communications, confirms that there is a protracted immune response in ME/CFS patients that exhausts T cells, leaving the body in a state of perpetual inflammation. Additionally, the study reveals abnormal functioning in the part of the brain that governs effort, leading to a different tolerance for physical and mental exertion in ME/CFS patients.
While the findings of the study are compelling, it’s important to emphasize that the sample size of patients was small, with only 17 ME/CFS patients included. As a result, the study serves as a starting point for further research and validation through larger studies. Additionally, questions surrounding the cause of ME/CFS and potential treatments remain unanswered, leaving patients and researchers with significant challenges.
For Sbrana and other ME/CFS patients, the hope for groundbreaking research remains strong, although the slow progress and uncertainties can be disheartening. The study serves as a reminder of the complexities of ME/CFS and the need for dedicated research efforts to unlock its secrets and pave the way for effective treatments and care for those affected.
As researchers continue to unravel the mysteries of ME/CFS, the need for greater awareness, support, and empathy for patients remains crucial. With ongoing investment in research and collaboration across the scientific community, there’s hope for breakthroughs that will transform the lives of ME/CFS patients and provide them with the care and support they deserve.
