New genetic findings could transform the future of ME/CFS treatment

For decades, people living with myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), have faced an uphill battle. This is a complex and often disabling condition that can leave people exhausted after even the smallest physical or mental effort, with symptoms that can include pain, sleep disturbance, sensitivity to light and sound, and difficulties with memory and concentration. Despite affecting millions worldwide, there has been no definitive test, no proven cure and, until now, little understanding of its underlying causes.

That is why a new international preprint from the DecodeME genome-wide association study is being described as a breakthrough. Researchers analysed genetic data from more than 20,000 people, including over 5,500 diagnosed with ME/CFS, and identified eight distinct genetic signals linked to the condition. These signals point towards changes in immune system regulation, energy metabolism and the body’s response to infection. You can read more about the findings on ScienceAlert, which breaks down how the team reached their conclusions.

ME/CFS affects an estimated 17 to 24 million people around the world, and its impact can be life-changing. The condition is often triggered by an infection, such as glandular fever or COVID-19, but why only some people develop ME/CFS has remained a mystery. According to Live Science, several of the genetic regions identified in this study are connected to brain function, immune signalling and mitochondrial health – all areas that researchers have suspected for years may play a role in the illness, now backed by large-scale data.

Experts say these findings could open the door to faster, more reliable diagnosis and, eventually, targeted treatments. In an interview with The Guardian, lead researcher Professor Chris Ponting called the results “the first real hope” for people with ME/CFS, explaining that the work offers a biological framework that can be explored in future drug development.

This is not the first time research has pointed to a biological basis for ME/CFS. Studies from the US National Institutes of Health and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research have also found signs of immune system changes, altered energy production and differences in brain activity in people with the condition. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention notes that ME/CFS is a serious, long-term illness that can affect multiple systems in the body, underscoring the need for deeper scientific understanding.

While there is still no cure, this genetic discovery marks a major shift. It validates the lived experiences of patients who have long been told there was “nothing wrong” and gives scientists a clearer starting point for developing effective interventions. The next step will be to study how these genetic factors interact with environmental triggers, which could help explain why some people recover from post-viral fatigue while others go on to develop ME/CFS.

At Reborne Longevity, we see breakthroughs like this as vital not only for those directly affected but for the broader field of personalised and preventative medicine. Understanding the genetic, immune and metabolic underpinnings of complex illnesses brings our Harley Street clinic closer to more precise, compassionate care – and to a future where conditions like ME/CFS can be diagnosed earlier, treated more effectively and, one day, prevented.