Brain Differences Found in Chronic Fatigue

A small new study suggests there are clear differences between the brains of people with and without chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome consists of several symptoms that last for 6 months or longer. The most important symptom is severe and long-lasting fatigue. There are many other possible symptoms. They include severe headaches, swollen lymph nodes and an extreme reaction to exertion. The new study included 15 people with chronic fatigue and 14 others. They received brain scans using a sophisticated type of MRI. People with chronic fatigue syndrome had less white matter than people without the condition. Nerve fibers in white matter carry messages in the brain. People with chronic fatigue also had abnormalities in an area called the right arcuate fasciculus. This area connects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes.