Shared biology behind chronic fatigue found in five major illnesses

Researchers identified a shared biological mechanism behind chronic fatigue in long COVID, PTSD, ME/CFS, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The findings, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, suggest these conditions may be driven by common underlying pathways despite different triggers. The team used Oxford BioDynamics' EpiSwitch Orion platform to analyze 3D genome architecture, finding that genes linked to each illness converge on shared regulatory networks controlling immune signaling, mitochondrial energy production, and stress responses. Lead researcher Professor Dmitry Pshezhetskiy said this represents a "biological unifying theory of fatigue." The study identified hub genes, including LAG3 linked to T-cell exhaustion, potentially explaining persistent illness. Researchers hope the findings could lead to objective blood tests and treatments applicable across multiple chronic conditions, moving beyond symptom-based diagnosis.