A Glimmer of Hope for People Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Alain Moreau, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine and the Department of Stomatology at Université de Montréal and a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre, is working to shed light on the mystery of myalgic encephalomyelitis, a debilitating disease that is receiving renewed attention in the wake of COVID-19.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), long known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is now recognized as a complex, multi-system disease. However, it remains a medical enigma whose underlying causes are poorly understood, leaving those affected with few effective treatment options.

Moreau now devotes much of his research to shedding light on the many unresolved issues surrounding ME, such as the role of genetic predisposition and the underlying biological mechanisms of the disease.

ME affects many body systems and produces a wide range of symptoms, including muscle pain and weakness, cognitive difficulties (often described as “brain fog”), autonomic disorders such as digestive problems, postural hypotension and sleep disturbances.

But the defining symptom of ME is post-exertional malaise, a state in which minor exertion—physical, mental or emotional—precipitates a significant worsening of symptoms that can last for hours, days or even weeks.

The challenges in studying myalgic encephalomyelitis include the heterogeneity of triggers, symptom clusters and disease progression.