Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain that primarily affects women age 20 to 50. Those who have it experience persistent body pain and tenderness. It’s also been linked to fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, depression and anxiety.
Because so little is known about why some people get fibromyalgia and others do not, researchers continue to study those who have it. A recent study found that fibromyalgia’s origins may be rooted within the brain.
“Our findings suggest that abnormal connectivity patterns between pain-related regions and the remaining brain during rest reflect an impaired central mechanism of pain modulation in (fibromyalgia),” the authors wrote in Brain Connectivity, published in August. Weaker connections between pain regions and parts of the brain may result in those with fibromyalgia feeling more pain than others, they explain.
Source: Brain Connectivity, eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-10/mali-fat100114.php