Sussex Argus – June 29th
A recently published study by a research team at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School explores an issue that many people with ME/CFS and other long‑term pain or fatigue conditions will recognise from lived experience, even if it has often been overlooked by healthcare systems.
The study investigated whether neurodivergent traits such as autism and ADHD are more common in people with chronic pain and chronic fatigue conditions, and whether joint hypermobility, a sign of variant connective tissue, helps explain this connection. The motivation for the research came from a growing body of evidence suggesting that certain lifelong neurological and physical differences may overlap in ways that influence health across the lifespan.
Many people with ME/CFS describe sensory sensitivities, difficulties with attention or overwhelm, differences in how their bodies respond to stress, or a history of joint instability and pain.
Until recently, these features have usually been treated as separate issues rather than parts of an interconnected pattern.
Overall, this study is important because it validates the experiences of many people with ME/CFS who have long sensed that their symptoms are part of a larger, lifelong pattern rather than a single unexplained event. It highlights the need for better recognition of neurodiversity and connective tissue differences in chronic illness, and it strengthens the case for more personalised, respectful, and biologically informed care.
By acknowledging these connections, healthcare systems may be better able to support quality of life, improve communication, and reduce the burden of being misunderstood.
Colin Barton
Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society