Depression is often a side effect of Fibromyalgia, but unlike some may have thought, Fibromyalgia is not caused by depression. For those of us with Fibromyalgia this is a bit of a “duh! Really” moment. You’d be depressed too if you were constantly in pain and couldn’t do the things you wanted to do.
A 2010 study measured the Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) of patients with fibromyalgia. BDNF is a key protein in the growth and maintenance of several neuron systems, and acts as a modulator of neuron excitability.
BDNF also plays a role in the mediation of pain in the nervous system, acting as a neuromediator for enhanced pain response and spinal central sensitization.
BDNF is generally low in patients with depression, and anti-depressants increase levels of BDNF.
However, studies have found increased levels of BDNF is patients with fibromyalgia.
This study compared the levels of BDNF found in the brain serum of those with Fibromyalgia to that found in healthy individuals.
These results were consistent regardless of whether patient was taking anti-depressants.
This is hopefully one step in the right direction towards finding a way to diagnose Fibromyalgia.
Source:
Haas, L., Portela, L. V., Böhmer, A. E., Oses, J. P., & Lara, D. R. (2010). Increased plasma levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in patients with fibromyalgia. Neurochemical research, 35(5), 830-834.
Julie says
FM isn’t caused by tick bites, however Lyme disease is and the symptoms are pretty much identical. There is, however, a test for Lyme.
Anonymous says
I know how I got FM, my Dr told me when I lived on the East Coast I was bite by a tick.
I live in Colorado now moved here 1994, she asked me a lot of questions, and took what seemed like most of my blood. Afterwards I could not figure out why so many questions such as have I ever been to the East Coast?
This Dr. herself has FM. She was just so
awsome. It took 20 Years to figure out what was wrong with me. A am glad I know what caused this. Now we just need a cure.
Thanks for listening.
Kimberly says
It’s hard when people assume that someone feels bad because they are depressed when really, it’s usually the other way around. I saw my Dr. yesterday and he was saying that now they are thinking that fibro. is caused by a virus~they just haven’t figured out what exactly what kind of virus. Hopefully, the future for fibro. patients will look a little brighter as more studies are done.