I would like to share a little secret.
I've been managing not only my own 23andMe DNA account but also the accounts of 12 other individuals, including two family members for 10 years.
Among these 12, two (nonfamily) displayed all the symptoms of ME/CFS but had their concerns dismissed by several doctors, who instead referred them to psychiatrists.
With their permission, I began last year to delve into their DNA for answers.
In one individual, exhibiting moderate ME/CFS symptoms, I discovered copies of SMN1, SMN2, and "rs" related mutation in SMN3 and SMN4.
The DNA of the other person, who is severely affected to the point of hardly being able to leave the house, showed similar rs markers in SMN1, SMN2, but had only SMN3.
Since 2020, I have reached out to several ME/CFS organizations about these genetic markers, only to be completely overlooked.
However, after reading an article today titled "
NIH study of ME/CFS points to immune dysfunction and brain abnormalities at the core of long-dismissed disease,"
Excerpt:
Researchers in the field think certain people may have a genetic predisposition that makes it more difficult for their body to clear an infection, so that could play a part. But if the disease can crop up after many different kinds of bugs, then what is the antigen — the molecule, protein, or thing — that’s driving an unrelenting immune response for months to years afterward?
I felt encouraged to contact two research facilities: one was
NIH study and another in Italy. The Italian team responded promptly, asking detailed questions about my findings. Unfortunately, I have not received a response from the NIH.