New study sheds light on the mechanisms of fibromyalgia

A study published in the September online edition of Arthritis & Rheumatism provides new information on the mechanisms of fibromyalgia.

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Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic, body-wide pain, muscle tenderness, and fatigue, affects more than five million Americans. The cause is yet to be known, and there is no cure. However, treatment can help alleviate its symptoms.

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The study used magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood flow changes in the brains and assess the responses of the study participants, a group composed of 35 women with the condition and a control group of 25 women without the condition, to non-painful stimulation. Researchers asked the groups to perform a variety of simple motor tasks, and exposed them to different colors and tones.

In the control group, the parts of the brain that are responsible for interpreting visual, motor, and auditory signals were activated significantly, while in the fibromyalgia group, areas of the brain that are not responsible for processing these signals were activated.

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The results seem to suggest that people with fibromyalgia do not just over-process pain-related signals; their brains also seem to misprocess certain types of signals that are actually non-painful.

The study has added more weight to the theory that fibromyalgia could be rooted in problems in the central nervous system. According to the study's lead author Marina Lopez-Sola of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder, understanding the mechanism might help them explore newer and more effective forms of treatment.

Dr. George Gertner is a chiropractor from White Plains, New York. For articles on health and disease prevention and management, susbcribe to this blog.