Scientists Find a Link Between Chronic Fatigue and Other Diseases

Topic: Biology

Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics found that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is linked to other diseases like long Covid, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. They used a new technology called EpiSwitch to study how DNA folds inside cells.

Scientists have been trying to understand why people with different illnesses often experience similar symptoms of exhaustion. Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics wanted to find out if there was a connection between these diseases. They studied five major illnesses: chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), long Covid, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

The researchers used a new technology called EpiSwitch, which helps them understand how DNA folds inside cells. This is different from just looking at the genetic sequence of an illness. They found that even though these diseases are triggered by different events, they may disrupt the same underlying biological systems.

The analysis showed that genes associated with these illnesses were feeding into many of the same major biological systems. These included immune and inflammatory signaling, mitochondrial energy production, metabolic regulation, stress-response mechanisms, and neuroendocrine signaling.

Why It Matters

This discovery is important because it could help doctors understand why people experience similar symptoms across different diseases. It may also lead to new treatments for these illnesses.

Key Facts

• Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics found a link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and other diseases like long Covid, PTSD, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
• They used a new technology called EpiSwitch to study how DNA folds inside cells.
• The analysis showed that genes associated with these illnesses were feeding into many of the same major biological systems.
• This discovery could help doctors understand why people experience similar symptoms across different diseases.
• The study was published in the Journal of Translational Medicine on August 22, 2026.

Key Terms

EpiSwitch

A new technology that helps scientists understand how DNA folds inside cells.

3D genome architecture

The way DNA is folded and organized inside cells.

Mitochondrial energy production

How cells produce energy using mitochondria.

Implications

This discovery is important because it could help doctors understand why people experience similar symptoms across different diseases. It may also lead to new treatments for these illnesses.