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Subject: New Brain Research Study at the University of Florida Pain

Research Lab!

New Brain Research of Fibromyalgia Pain at UF!The Musculoskeletal

Pain Lab at UF is dedicated to identify the mechanisms of

fibromyalgia (FM) pain. Accumulating evidence suggests that FM is

associated with brain dysfunction. The FM Lab at the University of

Florida is currently investigating brain changes associated with FM.

Using a new technique of magnetic resonance brain imaging (MRI)

called " voxel-based morphometry or VBM " , we will examine the brains

of FM patients and healthy controls. This will allow us to determine

whether important structures of the brain (gray and white matter)

shrink faster in FM than expected by aging. So far we have found that

FM patients have significantly less total gray matter brain volume

than healthy age-matched individuals. Other investigators have shown

that FM patients have a 3.3 times greater age-associated decrease in

gray matter than healthy controls. The longer FM individuals seem to

have chronic widespread pain, the greater the gray matter loss.

Importantly, each year of FM was equivalent to 9.5 times the loss in

normal aging. This loss of gray matter occurred in several brain

regions related to memory, mood, and pain, including the cingulate,

insular and medial frontal cortices. These neuroanatomical changes in

FM patients provide evidence of CNS involvement in this illness. In

particular, FM appears to be associated with an acceleration of age-

related volume loss in the brain.If you would like to receive more

information, please don't hesitate to contact us at 352-265-8901 or

email us at painresearch@... G. KhanLaboratory

TechnicianUniversity of FloridaDept. of Medicine / Div. of

RheumatologyCenter for Musculoskeletal Pain Research1600 S.W. Archer

Road Room G-056Gainesville, FL 32610(352) 265 - 8901