The fog is slowly lifting around the mysterious ailment known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it has been remarkable Griffith University research which has helped better understand the debilitating condition.
In a world first during 2017, Griffith University researchers at the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases announced an important breakthrough in understanding the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The research team, led by Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and Professor Don Staines, identified a dysfunctional cell receptor which appears to play a major role in affecting the immune system.
Speaking at the announcement, Queensland Science Minister Leanne Enoch called the discovery great news for all people living with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and the related Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
“It confirms what people with these conditions have long known: that it is a ‘real’ illness, not a psychological issue.
“CFS and ME are notoriously difficult to diagnose, with sufferers often going for years without getting the proper care and attention they need. Currently, there is no effective treatment.
“The Griffith University breakthrough now means we have a target for therapeutic intervention, which is welcome news to the 250,000 Australians believed to be affected by CFS and ME.”