Tang, Qianqian, Cao, Lihua · Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology · 2021 · DOI
Your gut bacteria (microbiome) communicate with your brain through multiple pathways, including immune signals and nerve connections. When this gut-brain communication goes wrong, it may contribute to various neurological conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome. This review summarizes what scientists know about how imbalanced gut bacteria might affect the nervous system and cause disease.
ME/CFS is explicitly included in this review of gut-brain axis dysfunction in neurological disease. Understanding whether dysbiosis contributes to ME/CFS pathophysiology could identify new diagnostic targets and treatment strategies, particularly given ME/CFS's prominent neuroimmune and autonomic features.
This review does not establish causality between dysbiosis and ME/CFS or any neurological disorder—it summarizes associations and proposed mechanisms. The authors explicitly state that causal evidence is lacking and that research remains in its infancy. This review cannot prove that microbiome interventions will effectively treat ME/CFS.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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