This picture shows neural degeneration in people with Alzheimer's, but the concepts of brain atrophy/degeneration are the same, just not as widespread.

This is very important research that further demonstrates the neurological connection to the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. In this study, the researchers used a funcitonal MRI and studied the brains of people with and without fibromyalgia.  They found that in people with fibromyalgia, they had decreased gray matter volume in areas of the brain!1 This literally means, that there were less neurons (brain cells) in some very important areas of the brain that are involved in the regulation of your autonomic nervous system as compared to those without fibromyalgia.1 Most of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia are directly associated with loss of normal regulation of the autonomic nervous system.  Could loss of the gray matter in these areas of your brain cause a loss of central nervous system regulation? Absolutely!

As far as I know, there are no direct cause and effect studies done on decreased grey matter in the brain (brain degeneration) and loss of autonomic regulation, but clinical experience, and other studies show direct relationships between grey matter deterioration and loss of function in other areas of the brain.2  For example, there were studies done on memory problems in people with fibromyalgia that showed a direct relationship between grey matter deterioration (in the frontal lobe and anterior cingulate gyrus) and memory.2,3  So just because the research hasn’t been done yet (or just because I don’t know of it), doesn’t mean that the connection doesn’t exist. Other studies clearly show a direct relationship between the amount of neurons in areas of the brain, and the functions associated with those areas.2,3  It’s pretty straight forward…if you lose neurons in an area of the brain, it does not functional as well.  If that area of the brain regulates the autonomic nervous system, then you could have a problem, and it may be fibromyalgia.

We use neurolocially based therapies, that help rebuild areas of the brain that are weak.  These therapies work because of neural plasticity, and the brains ability to rewire itself.  For more information on our neurological treatments, visit that page on our blog here.

If you have fibromyalgia, or know someone who does, please contact our office for a complimentary phone consultation, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shook (828) 324-0800.  We can also be reached by email at drshook@alliancechiropracticcenter.com.

Visit Us On the Web:

www.alliancechiropracticcenter.com

www.ncfibroclinic.com

1. Burgmer M, Gaubitz M, Konrad C, Wrenger M, Hilgart S, Heuft G, Pfleiderer B.  Decreased gray matter volumes in the cingulo-frontal cortex and the amygdala in patients with fibromyalgia.  Psychosom Med. 2009 Jun;71(5):566-73.
2. Luerding R, Weigand T, Bogdahn U, Schmidt-Wilcke T.  Working memory performance is correlated with local brain morphology in the medial frontal and anterior cingulate cortex in fibromyalgia patients: structural correlates of pain-cognition interaction. Brain. 2008 Dec;131(Pt 12):3222-31.
3. Schmidt-Wilcke T, Poljansky S, Hierlmeier S, Hausner J, Ibach B.  Memory performance correlates with gray matter density in the ento-/perirhinal cortex and posterior hippocampus in patients with mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls–a voxel based morphometry study.  Neuroimage. 2009 Oct 1;47(4):1914-20.

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