This week on Show Me the Science, Professor Luke O’Neill discussed chronic fatigue syndrome.

People who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – otherwise known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis - experience profound fatigue that does not go away with rest, as well as sleep issues and problems with memory or concentration.

Prof O’Neill said there are about 20,000 people in Ireland and 70 million people worldwide with CFS.

He said scientists have long believed that CFS typically developed after an infection.

“Chronic fatigue syndrome would often crop up after you've had the flu; it's another name for this post-viral fatigue syndrome as well, for instance,” he said.

“These two new studies agree with that, but they're finding more and more information about the immune system defect in this condition.

“It's consistent with what we kind of knew already, that many get it after an infection.

“Now, some don't - and there you have one of the big challenges to be honest.”

Prof O’Neill said since CFS seems to develop from a number of circumstances, it will likely be impossible to create a single treatment for the condition.

Tired upset woman worried about tiredness from domestic work. Image: Aleksandr Davydov / Alamy. 17 July 2019

He said a recent study by scientists in Edinburgh discovered eight genetic markers linked to CFS.

"Two of them are worth highlighting – RABGAB1L, and then another one is called BTN2AZ,” he said.

“Now both of those fight viruses, and there's an immediate clue again.

“Those two genes in the immune system, they're very important for how our immune system handles viruses.

“The idea would be if you're unlucky to carry those genes and you get infected with a virus - it could be COVID, it could be something like flu - it could be any virus really.

“They think those two genes in particular go off on one they're on a hair trigger, and they provoke your immune system.”

Treatment

Prof O’Neill said that, in individuals with these genes, their immune systems could continue acting as if their body has a virus even after it has been cured, leading them to develop CFS.

Other triggers could also be exercise and stress.

There are currently no medicines available to help treat CFS, but Prof O’Neill said there is research currently underway which could yield results in the future.

Main image: Prof Luke O’Neill in the Newstalk Studio. Image: Newstalk