article
Accelerated Brain Gray Matter Loss in Fibromyalgia Patients:
Premature Aging of the Brain?
J Neurosci. 2007 Apr 11;27(15):4004-4007.
Kuchinad A, Schweinhardt P, Seminowicz DA, Wood PB, Chizh BA, Bushnell MC.
McGill Centre for Research on Pain, Department of Neurology and
Neurosurgery, and Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry,
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2, and
GlaxoSmithKline, Addenbrooke's Centre for Clinical Investigation,
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2GG, United Kingdom.
PMID: 17428976
Fibromyalgia is an intractable widespread pain disorder that is most
frequently diagnosed in women. It has traditionally been classified
as either a musculoskeletal disease or a psychological disorder.
Accumulating evidence now suggests that fibromyalgia may be
associated with CNS dysfunction.
In this study, we investigate anatomical changes in the brain
associated with fibromyalgia. Using voxel-based morphometric analysis
of magnetic resonance brain images, we examined the brains of 10
female fibromyalgia patients and 10 healthy controls.
We found that fibromyalgia patients had significantly less total
gray matter volume and showed a 3.3 times greater age-associated
decrease in gray matter than healthy controls. The longer the
individuals had had fibromyalgia, the greater the gray matter loss,
with each year of fibromyalgia being equivalent to 9.5 times the loss
in normal aging. In addition, fibromyalgia patients demonstrated
significantly less gray matter density than healthy controls in
several brain regions, including the cingulate, insular and medial
frontal cortices, and parahippocampal gyri.
The neuroanatomical changes that we see in fibromyalgia patients
contribute additional evidence of CNS involvement in fibromyalgia. In
particular, fibromyalgia appears to be associated with an
acceleration of age-related changes in the very substance of the
brain. Moreover, the regions in which we demonstrate objective
changes may be functionally linked to core features of the disorder
including affective disturbances and chronic widespread pain.
Premature Aging of the Brain?
J Neurosci. 2007 Apr 11;27(15):4004-4007.
Kuchinad A, Schweinhardt P, Seminowicz DA, Wood PB, Chizh BA, Bushnell MC.
McGill Centre for Research on Pain, Department of Neurology and
Neurosurgery, and Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dentistry,
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2, and
GlaxoSmithKline, Addenbrooke's Centre for Clinical Investigation,
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 2GG, United Kingdom.
PMID: 17428976
Fibromyalgia is an intractable widespread pain disorder that is most
frequently diagnosed in women. It has traditionally been classified
as either a musculoskeletal disease or a psychological disorder.
Accumulating evidence now suggests that fibromyalgia may be
associated with CNS dysfunction.
In this study, we investigate anatomical changes in the brain
associated with fibromyalgia. Using voxel-based morphometric analysis
of magnetic resonance brain images, we examined the brains of 10
female fibromyalgia patients and 10 healthy controls.
We found that fibromyalgia patients had significantly less total
gray matter volume and showed a 3.3 times greater age-associated
decrease in gray matter than healthy controls. The longer the
individuals had had fibromyalgia, the greater the gray matter loss,
with each year of fibromyalgia being equivalent to 9.5 times the loss
in normal aging. In addition, fibromyalgia patients demonstrated
significantly less gray matter density than healthy controls in
several brain regions, including the cingulate, insular and medial
frontal cortices, and parahippocampal gyri.
The neuroanatomical changes that we see in fibromyalgia patients
contribute additional evidence of CNS involvement in fibromyalgia. In
particular, fibromyalgia appears to be associated with an
acceleration of age-related changes in the very substance of the
brain. Moreover, the regions in which we demonstrate objective
changes may be functionally linked to core features of the disorder
including affective disturbances and chronic widespread pain.