Fibromyalgia Syndrome is characterized by widespread and chronic pain as well as symptoms such as intense fatigue, non-restorative sleep, and cognitive disturbances. This pathology affects a large number of people estimated to be between 2% and 4% of the population, mostly women, and despite this, the cause that causes it is still unknown. Many scientists have focused on how the nervous system of these patients is, trying to explain the reason for this chronic pain and also for other problems such as concentration difficulties , so frequent in patients.
A recent publication from Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2016) reviews studies conducted between 2000 and 2015 on what the brain is like in fibromyalgia patients. HaiCun Shi and colleagues analyzed the brain imaging results of a total of 180 patients compared to 126 healthy people comparable in age and gender.
The results of the meta-analysis carried out by the authors seem unquestionable and point to the idea that fibromyalgia patients have a different brain . Specifically, it was found that one of the clearest findings was a lower density of gray matter in areas of the medial / cingulate prefrontal cortex, also of the posterior cingulate and several areas of the hippocampus . On the other hand, significant increases in brain gray matter were found on the left side of the cerebellum .
After 15 years of research, these data could help explain the fact that these patients find problems in their ability to concentrate or resist the interference of distractors when they are carrying out activities such as reading, cooking or having conversations. The interesting thing from these findings will be to study how to help those affected, for example by analyzing the role of cognitive skills training . Hopefully all of these research and efforts will help promote a higher quality of life for people with fibromyalgia.
Marisa Fernández Sánchez, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
