UF Musculoskeletal Pain Research Lab to hold eighth annual Fibromyalgia Meeting

April 24, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Musculoskeletal Pain Research Lab will hold the eighth annual Fibromyalgia Meeting at the McKnight Brain Institute at 2 p.m. on May 16.

Dr. Roland Staud will discuss the significance of the institute’s research on chronic pain and its effects on gray brain matter. The brain is comprised of gray matter, which is made up of nerve cells, and white matter, which is made up of nerves. This matter is essential for brain function.

Recent studies have shown an important relationship between disease duration and gray matter loss. It has been found that the decline or decrease of gray matter in Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) patients occurred approximately nine times faster than in normal control patients. This decline was related to neuronal loss in areas that are used in cognition and pain processing.

Call 352-265-8901 for more information or to obtain directions to the meeting. Admission is free.