Disruption of Cognitive Function in Fibromyalgia

Disruption of cognitive function in Fibromyalgia Syndrome.

Pain. 2008 Aug 6. [Epub ahead of print]

Dick BD, Verrier MJ, Harker KT, Rashiq S.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, 8-120 Clinical
Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G
2B7; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Canada;
Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, University of Alberta Hospital, Canada.

PMID: 18691816


Accumulating evidence points to significant cognitive disruption in
individuals with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). This study was carried
out in order to examine specific cognitive mechanisms involved in
this disruption.

Standardized experimental paradigms were used to examine attentional
function and working memory capacity in 30 women with FMS and 30
matched controls. Cognitive function was examined using performance
on these tests and between group results were analysed in the context
of important psychological and behavioural measures.

Performance of standardized everyday attentional tasks was impaired
in the FMS group compared to controls. Working memory was also found
to be impaired in this group. Stimulus interference was found to be
significantly worse in the FMS group as the demands of the tasks
increased. These effects were found to exist independent of the
measures of mood and sleep disruption. However, when pain levels were
accounted for statistically, no differences existed between groups on
cognitive measures.

These findings point to disrupted working memory as a specific
mechanism that is disrupted in this population. The results of this
study suggest that pain in FMS may play an important role in
cognitive disruption. It is likely that many factors, including
disrupted cognition, play a role in the reduced quality of life
reported by individuals with FMS.

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This echoes a study about 10 years ago in which it was found that chronic pain disrupted the brain's ability to form new memories.  Apparently the pain used up so much of the "bandwidth" that there was not enough left for other things the brain needs to do.