20 Brain Stem

<p>Symptoms of Brain Stem Dysfunction include:</p>

<p>Sleep – Balance and Movement – Swallowing – Vertigo – Organization/perception – Balance and Movement – Insomnia – Decreased respiratory capacity</p>

<p>From: <a href="https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2015/11/27/fatigue-multiple-sclerosis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia-is-it-the-same/">The Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Fibromyalgia - Is it the Same? - Health Rising</a></p>

<p>Barndem’s <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369126/">fascina</a><a id="null" class="null" href="https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2015/11/27/fatigue-multiple-sclerosis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia-is-it-the-same/">https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2015/11/27/fatigue-multiple-sclerosis-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-and-fibromyalgia-is-it-the-same/</a><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369126/">ting 2011 study</a> suggested brainstem damage in ME/CFS was producing altered autonomic nervous system functioning. The greatest damage was found in the reticular activation system which activates the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. Similar to MS, Barnden’s findings +suggested that reduced activation of the cerebral cortex and other upper brain regions was present.</p>

<div id="attachment_20157" class="wp-caption alignright">Reduced brain activation was found in one (unpublished) ME/CFS study</div>

<p>The Zinn’s fascinating EEG studies highlighted in the <a href="http://healthrising.org/blog/2014/03/20/tweeting-stanford-symposium-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/">Stanford Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symposium</a>suggested that reduced activation of the cortex was highly associated with fatigue in ME/CFS. They characterized ME/CFS as a “global expression of central nervous system hypoactivation”; i.e. it appeared that significant parts of ME/CFS patients brain were underactivated. Their results suggested that reduced “arousal” from the brainstem may be to blame. In the Stanford newsletter from early this year Dr. Montoya stated that the paper was in publication. It has not been published yet.</p>

<p><strong>Brain Stem Damage – </strong>Barndem’s <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369126/">fascinating 2011 study</a> suggested brainstem damage in ME/CFS was producing altered autonomic nervous system functioning. The greatest damage was found in the reticular activation system which activates the cerebral cortex via the thalamus. Similar to MS, Barnden’s findings suggested that reduced activation of the cerebral cortex and other upper brain regions was present.</p>

<div id="attachment_20157" class="wp-caption alignright">Reduced brain activation was found in one (unpublished) ME/CFS study</div>