Scientists have identified new genetic risk factors for fibromyalgia, a long-term chronic pain condition
Experts, who noted that people with fibromyalgia have been “dismissed” for decades, examined the DNA of more than two million people which confirmed the syndrome “represents a problem in pain processing”
It is hoped the findings could lead to better ways to identify and treat the condition in the future
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Existing trials focusing on incurable conditions such as Huntington’s disease could also “eventually benefit people with fibromyalgia”, according to researchers
Up to two million people in the UK live with fibromyalgia, experiencing varying symptoms from widespread pain, stiffness, persistent fatigue, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and cognitive difficulties affecting memory and learning
Research led by a global team of experts, including those from King’s College London, drew on data from more than 2.5 million adults in the UK, US, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia
Some 55,000 had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia
The team analysed the genetic differences in people with or without the condition to pinpoint the most common changes
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DNA sequence variants were found in 26 regions of the genome which affected the risk of developing fibromyalgia
Frances Williams, co-senior author and professor of genomic epidemiology at King’s College London, said: “By studying the DNA of over two million individuals, we can be confident that the findings are real and they suggest that fibromyalgia represents a problem in pain processing.”
Dr Michael Wainberg, an investigator at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and the University of Toronto, said: “This work changes how we think about fibromyalgia at a fundamental level
“For decades, patients have been dismissed or told their pain is simply psychological. Our findings confirm the condition has a clear biological basis.”
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The study also uncovered a strong link between fibromyalgia risk and the gene HTT
Mutations in this gene can cause Huntington’s disease, a rare inherited brain disorder with no cure
Another variant pointed to a receptor that regulates HTT levels, which is already being investigated as a possible drug target for Huntington’s
Symptoms of fibromyalgia
As well as widespread pain, other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
increased sensitivity to pain
muscle stiffness
difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep, which can make you feel very tired (fatigue)
problems with mental processes (known as “fibro-fog”), such as difficulty concentrating or remembering things
headaches
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating
feelings of frustration, worry or low mood
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Elsewhere, the study suggests there may be a genetic overlap between fibromyalgia and other conditions such as lower back pain and irritable bowel syndrome
Prof Williams said chronic pain syndromes sometimes “cluster together” in people and are genetically similar
Targeting these underlying “shared mechanisms” could benefit a range of conditions, she said
Prof Williams added: “This study provides important new insights into why some people develop fibromyalgia syndrome and identifies biological pathways that could lead to new treatment approaches
“One of these pathways is already the focus of drug trials for Huntington’s disease, raising the possibility that existing pharmaceutical research could eventually benefit people with fibromyalgia. The findings also help us better understand why fibromyalgia so often occurs alongside conditions such as anxiety and depression, bringing us closer to understanding the condition as a whole.”
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Dr Nasa Sinnott-Armstrong, assistant professor at Fred Hutch Cancer Centre, said: “Understanding how genes, environmental exposures, and life events jointly contribute to the risk of fibromyalgia syndrome is critical
“Further research into triggers of fibromyalgia and corresponding changes in neural tissues will help understand what drives fibromyalgia and how to treat it.”
