This study aimed to identify fibromyalgia genetic risk factors through a combined genetic analysis of over 2.5 million individuals. They had 54,629 fibromyalgia cases and 2,509,126 controls (people without fibromyalgia, used for comparison).
They Found:
· 26 independent genome-wide-significant risk loci (locations) for fibromyalgia.
· These loci were linked to the biological abnormalities found in people with fibromyalgia.
· Most were linked with the brain, particularly those areas that affect pain and sensory processing.
· Genetic validation that fibromyalgia is a central nervous system disorder.
· A genetic link between fibromyalgia and Huntington’s disease.
· No genetic difference between males and females (the difference in prevalence is therefore likely due to other factors, such as hormones or environmental exposure).
· A genetic overlap with Long COVID and ME/CFS, as well as many other illnesses that are often seen to coexist with fibromyalgia, such as IBS.
· Weak evidence that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder. This suggests that fibromyalgia is not primarily an autoimmune disorder, though it may have an immune component.
What does this mean for us?
This research helps to prove that fibromyalgia is a real, physiological illness.
Most excitingly, it can be used to identify possible treatments for fibromyalgia.
· A drug that is already used for Huntington’s disease might be repurposed for fibromyalgia.
· They can also explore gene therapies based on the genes that have found to be linked to fibromyalgia.
Reference
Kerrebijn, I., Bjornsdottir, G., Arbabi, K., Urpa, L., Haapaniemi, H., Thorleifsson, G., Stefansdottir, L., Frangakis, S., Valliere, J., Kunorozva, L., Abner, E., Ji, C., Aagaard, B., Bliddal, H., Brunak, S., Bruun, M. T., Didriksen, M., Erikstrup, C., Geirsson, A. J., … Wainberg, M. (2025). The genetic architecture of fibromyalgia across 2.5 million individuals. medRxiv, 2025.09.18.25335914. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.09.18.25335914