The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, challenge the widely held view that the condition originates in the brain Photograph: Manjurul Haque/Alamy Stock Photo

Fibromyalgia – a poorly understood condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body and extreme tiredness – may be caused by be an autoimmune response that increases the activity of pain-sensing nerves throughout the body.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, challenge the widely held view that the condition originates in the brain, and could pave the way for more effective treatments for the millions of people affected.

They could also have implications for patients suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and “long Covid”. “These different syndromes are symptomatically very similar, so I think it could be very relevant to both of these conditions,” said Dr David Andersson from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, who led the new study.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/01/fibromyalgia-may-be-a-condition-of-the-immune-system-not-the-brain-study?fbclid=IwAR3Ln6RTcANbMb3SbjnqFgWFd0c_99lItsC4S6VLp-5xDwasiLIbqy6yADQ