Q&A with Dr. Younger: What Research Is Being Done and Will Be Done?

On September 2, 2016, Dr. Jarred Younger, with the Neuroinflammation Pain and Fatigue Lab at UAB (The Younger Lab) answered presubmitted and live questions about his research into ME/CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, Gulf War illness and other complex chronic diseases.
He answered the following questions:
1. What details can Dr. Younger give on the interest from pharmaceutical companies in ME/CFS and fibromyalgia? 05:35
2. What are the studies The Younger Lab started this summer? 09:32
3. What is the status of the daily blood draw for ME/CFS study? 12:22
4. Has The Younger Lab received funding for the brain temperature study for ME/CFS? 14:26
5. What is the status of the fibromyalgia alcohol intolerance study?15:16
6. Could there be a connection between the hypometabolic state the Naviaux study found in ME/CFS patients and Dr. Younger's theory of an overly responsive brain immune system causing the disease? 17:49
7. Why did Dr. Younger decide to study botanicals as a possible treatment, and is he going to do any studies with pharmaceuticals? 21:25
8. Can Dr. Younger advise me on what treatment I need for my disease? 24:32
9. What is the status of The Younger Lab's study on ME/CFS and LDN (low-dose Natrexone) and will it include objective measures in that study? 25:11
10. What is The Younger Lab pursuing in it's research: triggers, causes, symptom treatment--how deep is it going to find out the disease process? 28:15
11. How soon will The Younger Lab do a study of botanicals as a treatment for ME/CFS? 30:25
12. How long before The Younger Lab finishes the Gulf War illness botanicals clinical trials study? 32:10
13. Will The Younger Lab be including Korean ginseng in it's botanicals research? 32:20
14. What is the status of the dextromethorphan study and how will it be done and on what disease? 34:00
15. Will The Younger Lab be studying deplin (L-methylfolate)? 35:35
16. Will The Younger Lab be studying the effectiveness of different LDN dosage amounts or considering that variable in it's studies? 37:00
17. What is the status of the immune system tracking study (looking at the immune system and the blood brain barrier)? 40:15
18. Why haven't there been more large-scale studies of LDN in fibromyalgia and other illnesses? 41:45
19. Will The Younger Lab be studying FV100, which has been useful in treating pain in shingles? 44:35
20. Will The Younger Lab be studying Xyrem on fibromyalgia or ME/CFS? 46:40
21. What was the response rate of people with fibromyalgia on LDN and how long does it take to feel the effect, according to The Younger Lab's study? 48:45
22. Will The Younger Lab be studying B12 and cobalamin? 50:40
23. Will The Younger Lab's research include the autonomic or vagal nervous system? 51:40
24. Do any of The Younger Lab's studies include an exercise challenge to see the effect? 54:05
25. Will Dr. Younger be working with Kevin Fontain, at UAB, who has published studies with Dr. Peter Rowe? 54:05
26. What criteria does The Younger Lab use in its ME/CFS studies and what tools does it use to measure symptoms? 56:20
27. Does The Younger Lab exclude depression when it studies ME/CFS? 59:10
28. Does The Younger Lab accept donations for it's research? 1:00:25
29. Does The Younger Lab have a cut off age for study participants? 1:01:40
30. Can people who live in another state participate in The Younger Lab's studies? 1:03:05
31. What should a person do if they tried LDN and it made them worse, does that mean they aren't a match for LDN treatment or should they try it again? 1:08:05
Here is a link to our website:
cas.uab.edu/younger