Brain Dysfunction May Explain Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Dysfunction in a portion of the brain may explain some of the

symptoms of Fibromyalgia syndrome, researchers suggest in a paper

published in the Journal of Rheumatology Dr. Yasser Emad, of Cairo

University, Egypt, and colleagues used proton magnetic resonance

spectroscopy to examine the function of the hippocampus in 15

patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome and in10 healthy women who

were the same age as the other patients.

The hippocampus is located deep in the front portion of the brain

involved in regulating emotions and memory. Functionally, the

hippocampus is part of the olfactory cortex, which is important to the

sense of smell. The name is from the Greek hippos (horse) = kampos

(a sea monster), based on its shape, which resembles a seahorse.

Using spectroscopy, the researchers calculated levels of hippocampus

levels of the brain chemicals N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline,

creatine, along with their ratios, and compared the findings between the

two groups. All study participants also underwent assessments of sleep

patterns, cognitive function, and symptoms of depression.

In the patient group, language scores were significantly correlated with

choline and creatine levels, but there was no significant correlation

between the levels of the metabolites or their ratios and the number of

tender points.

"The hippocampus was dysfunctional in patients with Fibromyalgia, as

shown by lower NAA levels," the investigators conclude.

Because the hippocampus has a critical role in maintaining cognitive

functions, sleep regulation, and pain perception, the researchers

suggest that metabolic dysfunction of hippocampus may be implicated

in the symptoms of this puzzling syndrome.

The number of tender points on the body was assessed in all patients
and a visual analog scale was used to measure pain.

Patient age averaged 35.7 years, and their average disease duration
was 18.1 months. All of the patients had cognitive functional

impairments on the Mini-Mental State Examination, eight (35.5 percent)
were depressed according to the Hamilton Depression Scale,

and nine (60 percent) had sleep disturbances. None of the control
subjects had any problems in these areas.

"NAA levels of the right and left hippocampi were lower in the
patients compared to controls," Emad's team explains. "Another

statistically significant difference was observed in choline levels in
the right hippocampus, which were higher in the patient group." The

Fibromyalgia patients also had significantly lower NAA to choline and
NAA to creatine ratios compared with the control subjects.

There were no differences between the groups in other metabolites
measured or in the choline to creatine ratio.

In the patient group, language scores were significantly correlated with

choline and creatine levels, but there was no significant correlation

between the levels of the metabolites or their ratios and the number
of tender points.

"The hippocampus was dysfunctional in patients with Fibromyalgia, as

shown by lower NAA levels," the investigators conclude.

Because the hippocampus has a critical role in maintaining cognitive

functions, sleep regulation, and pain perception, the researchers

suggest that metabolic dysfunction of hippocampus may be implicated

in the symptoms of this puzzling syndrome."

This research may explain why certain therapeutic grade essential oils with specific electrical frequencies) have helped me since 2001. They affect the limbic portion of the brain via the olfactory system, which is tied to the hippocampus. I hope researchers will continue this intriguing investigation into brain function and FMS/CFIDS. Regular medical tests seem to always come back "normal," yet we know our bodies are not functioning normally! My husband thinks our "computer" (brain) has some kind of an electrical malfunction - maybe due to genetics, stress, viruses, weather, molds, toxins.....who knows?! Write dombush@bellsouth.net for info about therapeutic essential oils. Also see www.fms-help.com/oils.htm and www.oil-testimonials.com/6861.