Session Information
Session Type: ACR Poster Session A
Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Background/Purpose:
Core features of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia are memory loss and disturbance in mental clarity. The present study examines if disturbance in mental clarity, a core feature of fibromyalgia, shapes the fear of falling prey to Alzheimer’s in rheumatic disease groups with and without fibromyalgia.
Methods:
The self administered form of the new ACR criteria for fibromyalgia along with the Mental Clutter Scale were administered to 246 consecutive patients at a single office site. Scores on the new ACR criteria of ≥ 12 formed the fibromyalgia group. Scores ≥ 4 defined disturbance in mental clarity. Risk of Alzheimer’s disease, as judged by the patient, was measured on a 0 to 100 chance scale.
Results:
Perception of risk substantially increased with sharp reductions in mental clarity often referred to as brain fog, with risk increasing from 18.7 ± 20.7 to 46.2 ± 20.6 p<0.01 in the fibromyalgia group, and from 22.0 ± 23.2 to 41.1 ± 25.3, p<0.01 in controls. The percentage of people who perceived high risk was significantly higher among fibromyalgia patients ( 40.6% vs. 19.3%, p<0.01 ). The age of risk perception was very similar in the two groups (fibromyalgia 47.4±9.9 vs. 49.6±9.8, p=.38).
Conclusion:
Fear among people with fibromyalgia that Alzheimer’s will strike them is often presumed to be due to the development of memory problems in their young years. This is the first known evidence of an association between perceived risk of Alzheimer’s disease in fibromyalgia and poor mental clarity, a core component of cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia.
At the average age of 47, the risk views of the fibromyalgia group will be a costly burden in the years to come. Yet, there is no evidence that the cognitive problems of fibromyalgia transition to Alzheimer’s later in life.
A better understanding of the cognitive problems of fibromyalgia among clinicians would be an important advance.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Katz RS, Leavitt F. Patients with Fibromyalgia May be Fearful of Developing Dementia Despite Lack of Concrete Evidence of Cognitive Decline [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018; 70 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/patients-with-fibromyalgia-may-be-fearful-of-developing-dementia-despite-lack-of-concrete-evidence-of-cognitive-decline/. Accessed .« Back to 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/patients-with-fibromyalgia-may-be-fearful-of-developing-dementia-despite-lack-of-concrete-evidence-of-cognitive-decline/