Working memory dysfunction in fibromyalgia is associated with genotypes of the catechol- O-methyltransferase gene, 2022, Ferrera et al

Abstract

Recent findings have associated different COMT genotypes with working memory capacity in patients with fibromyalgia. Although it is thought that the COMT gene may influence neural correlates (P2 and P3 ERP components) underlying working memory impairment in this chronic-pain syndrome, it has not yet been explored. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to investigate the potential effect of the COMT gene in fibromyalgia patients on ERP working memory indices (P2 and P3 components).

For this purpose, 102 participants (51 patients and 51 healthy control participants) took part in the experiment. Event-related potentials and behavioral responses were recorded while participants performed a spatial n-back task. Participants had to decide if the stimulus coincided or not in the same location as the one presented one (1-back condition) or two (2-back condition) trials before. Genotypes of the COMT gene were determined through a saliva sample from all participants.

Present results significantly showed lower working memory performance (p < 0.05) in patients with fibromyalgia as compared to control participants (higher rate of errors and slower reaction times). At neural level, we found that patients exhibited enhanced frontocentral and parieto-occipital P2 amplitudes compared to control participants (p < 0.05). Interestingly, we also observed that only fibromyalgia patients carrying the Val/Val genotype of the COMT gene showed higher frontocentral P2 amplitudes than control participants (p < 0.05).

Current results (behavioral outcomes and P2 amplitudes) confirmed the presence of an alteration in working memory functioning in fibromyalgia. The enhancement of frontocentral P2 could be reflecting that these patients would manifest an inefficient way of activating executive attention processes, in carriers of the Val/Val genotype of COMT. To our knowledge, the present findings are the first linking neural indices of working memory dysfunctions and COMT genotypes in fibromyalgia. Applying a subgroup of patient’s strategy based on this genetic marker could be useful to establish more tailored therapeutical approaches.

Open access, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00406-022-01488-4

 

Hmm for all of this mine is directly correlated to how exhausted and ill I am.

They can blind with fuzz on the mechanisms of what is involved with working memory but really given that I might be great before I do something on a day I feel well, then it goes down with each exertion makes me wonder why the heck they didn't do this test first. Given they are so keen on extrapolation, here's one: imagine if the illness didn't exist at all, or a treatment made it better - you'd have a new 'even better day' to extrapolate the 'better working memory' end to.

And they can use the word dysfunction all they like - but to me it is branding which I am not sure is about providing an advantage or help to patients. Do they use that term when they themselves have done e.g. 5 70hr days in a row and then got stuck in traffic and had a few bad night's sleep and can't remember a phone number? Or when they have a severe bout of flu and can't manage to write an email for work? Or do they say 'so tired/ill I can't think' and noone bats an eye because we and they all get it? And why do they not use that term about themselves?

It's good if they've demonstrated it - would be even better if they dragged in colleagues when they had flu or glandular fever, or got them to work solidly for a week with no sleep, people who just spent 3 days in labour giving birth, just had an operation, were in the throws of a migraine etc and did the same tests in order that they could 'compare' in layman's terms if it is the same or 'different'. Be useful to know whether what they really needed to treat was the pain and exhaustion etc?