Top brains tackle chronic fatigue syndrome

[Guest guest]

The Sydney Morning Herald

Top brains tackle chronic fatigue syndrome

December 3, 2010

Some of the world's leading researchers in neuroscience and immunology

have gathered on the Gold Coast for an international science symposium

on the debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

It's estimated about a quarter of a million Australians are affected

by the illness, which causes dysfunction of the brain and the

gastro-intestinal, immune, endocrine and cardiac systems.

The cost to the Australian community is put at close to $380 million a year.

Symposium co-organiser Dr Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik said for the next

two days top scientists from around the world will focus on the

current state of research into CFS and help set a focus for research

in the future.

" The objective is to bring new research ideas and different approaches

to explaining and treating this disabling condition, " she said.

It's the first conference to pull together scientists involved in CFS

research and others who haven't worked closely in the field but whose

" incisive minds and research skills " may help in unravelling this

perplexing condition.

The symposium at Bond University's Faculty of Health Sciences and

Medicine will end on Saturday.