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An overactive immune system may possibly help to explain the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome.

Scientists studied 55 patients with hepatitis C who were given a drug that causes a similar reaction to a virus.

18 of them had an overactive immune system and developed symptoms similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a long-standing illness with extreme fatigue.

King’s College scientists have selected 55 patients with hepatitis C. The usual treatment for the disease is the interferon-alpha that causes the immune system to cause a severe infection. The researchers measured fatigue and immune markers before, during, and after treatment, monitoring people with chronic fatigue syndrome.

In the 18 patients who developed symptoms similar to chronic fatigue syndrome, the researchers found a much stronger immune response to the drug.

These patients also had an overactive immune system prior to initiation of treatment.

For the first time, researchers have shown that people with a tendency for diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome have an overactive immune system before and after a challenge

A new study suggests that exercise, even a little of it, can lengthen your life. 

Exercise, even a little of it, can lengthen your life. 

The Norwegian researchers also found that too much sitting was associated with a higher risk of early death.

Developing ways to limit sedentary time and increase activity at any level could considerably improve health and reduce mortality.

In the study, the team analyzed data from eight studies that included more than 36,000 adults, aged 40 and older, who were followed for an average of almost six years. During follow-up, nearly 6% of the participants died. After adjusting for other factors, the researchers concluded that any amount of physical activity, regardless of intensity, was associated with a significantly lower risk of early death.

Death rates fell sharply as total activity increased to an amount that was similar to average activity levels in U.S. men and about 10% to 15% lower than activity levels in Scandinavian men and women, the findings showed.

A similarly steep decline in death rates was associated with increasing amounts of light physical activity up to about 300 minutes (5 hours) a day, and moderate-intensity physical activity of about 24 minutes per day.

The largest difference in early death risk (about 60% to 70%) was between the least and most physically active, with about five times more deaths among inactive people than among those who were most active, according to the report.

The researchers also found that spending 9.5 hours or more each day sitting was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of early death.

The research was published in BMJ. Ulf Ekelund, a professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, said the findings reinforce evidence that any amount of exercise is beneficial.