Can fibromyalgia cause brain damage?

A new study from Sweden finds fibromyalgia is linked to abnormal activity in parts of the brain that process pain signals and link them to other regions.

Does fibromyalgia affect the brain?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

Does fibromyalgia affect the brain or nerves?

Clauw explained that fibromyalgia pain comes more from the brain and spinal cord than from areas of the body in which someone may experience peripheral pain. The condition is believed to be associated with disturbances in how the brain processes pain and other sensory information.

What in the brain causes fibromyalgia?

Research has found people with fibromyalgia have abnormally low levels of the hormones serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in their brains. Low levels of these hormones may be a key factor in the cause of fibromyalgia, as they're important in regulating things like: mood.

Can fibromyalgia be seen on a brain scan?

An MRI may be able to detect brain activity connected to fibromyalgia pain. For patients dealing with fibromyalgia, the widespread musculoskeletal pain they feel is made worse by the frustration and misunderstanding that usually accompanies the disorder.

How Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Are Related

Can fibromyalgia cause memory loss?

It can also lead to problems with memory or thinking clearly. These cognitive difficulties — called fibro fog — are common: Research suggests more than half of people with fibromyalgia show a decline in memory and clear thinking.

Can a neurologist treat fibromyalgia?

Today, both rheumatologists and neurologists treat fibromyalgia.

What part of the brain controls fibromyalgia?

FM patients demonstrated greater correlation in the cerebellum (asymptotic χ²-test, P = 0.0025), while healthy controls demonstrated greater correlation in the frontal lobe (P = 0.0002) (C).

Can fibromyalgia cause brain shrinkage?

These findings reveal for the first time that patients with fibromyalgia have brain gray matter atrophy. Interestingly, the normal age-related decrease in gray matter was accelerated in fibromyalgia patients and related to disease duration.

What happens if fibromyalgia is left untreated?

A major risk of leaving fibromyalgia untreated is that symptoms such as chronic pain, fatigue, headaches, and depression can become excruciatingly worse over time. Fibromyalgia also has a huge impact on mental health and anxiety and mood disorders can also worsen if you don't treat fibromyalgia.

Is fibromyalgia a mental illness?

Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes widespread pain all over the body and tender points that are sensitive to the touch. It is not considered a mental illness, but many people with fibromyalgia also experience depression and/or anxiety.

Are there different stages of fibromyalgia?

Results: There were four parent stages of FM identified and labeled: 1) regional FM with classic symptoms; 2) generalized FM with increasing widespread pain and some additional symptoms; 3) FM with advanced and associated conditions, increasing widespread pain, increased sleep disturbances, and chemical sensitivity; ...

Does fibromyalgia cause dementia?

Fibromyalgia was associated with increased risk of all types of dementia in this study. Conclusions: The study subjects with fibromyalgia had a 2.77-fold risk of dementia in comparison to the control group.

Does fibromyalgia affect the hippocampus?

Fibromyalgia patients have reduced hippocampal volume compared with healthy controls.

What causes decrease in gray matter?

Response learning is also associated with a decrease in the gray matter of the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain linked to episodic memory and orientation. A low amount of gray matter in this brain area is related to Alzheimer's disease, depression , and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why does fibromyalgia cause cognitive problems?

FMS patients are assumed to experience emotional imbalance, i.e., increased negative and reduced positive affect (Hassett et al., 2008; Finan et al., 2009; Malin and Littlejohn, 2013); as such, it seems plausible that unfavorable affective states may also contribute to their cognitive impairments.

How does fibromyalgia make your head feel?

However, these are some common fibromyalgia headache symptoms, including: Pulsing, sharp, or aching pain. Pain on one side of the face only, extending into the eye. Head pain that radiates into the neck and shoulder muscles.

How serious is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is typically not life threatening but can affect day-to-day activities. Pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep that occur in fibromyalgia can impair the ability to function or concentrate. Patients may also feel frustrated due to their condition, and this can lead to anxiety or depression.

Can MS be mistaken for fibromyalgia?

But despite some similarities, “for the most part, there is no mistaking symptoms of MS with fibromyalgia,” says Philip Cohen, MD, a rheumatologist, professor of medicine and professor of microbiology and immunology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia.

What kind of doctor is best for fibromyalgia?

Rheumatologist. These doctors specialize in musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis and gout. Though fibromyalgia isn't a form of arthritis and doesn't cause inflammation or damage to joints, muscles, or other tissues, the symptoms someone with fibro feels are similar.

What is fuzzy brain?

What is brain fog syndrome? Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.

Does fibromyalgia affect speech?

Fibromyalgia patients often report a number of cognitive functioning problems including memory loss, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech, transposing letters and numbers, inability to think of the word you're looking for, and thinking one thing but saying or writing something different.

What is the life expectancy with fibromyalgia?

There are periods of flare-ups followed by periods where symptoms are minimal. However, it is unlikely that they will ever permanently disappear altogether. However, fibromyalgia is not life-threatening and does not reduce life expectancy.

Does Covid affect fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia and COVID-19

When you have fibromyalgia, you could be at higher risk for COVID-19 if you also have an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

What is the new name for fibromyalgia?

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)