A growing body of research points to an association between neurodivergence, joint hypermobility, chronic pain, and anxiety, though this link is not well understood. Health care providers have recognized for years that people with ADHD and autism experience physical symptoms, such as migraines, gut disorders, and pain sensitivity, at a rate higher than the general population. But researchers are now gaining a deeper understanding of how and why hypermobility, which is much more prevalent among people with ADHD and autism, may be a mediating factor in linking neurodivergence, pain, and chronic conditions.
In one study led by Dr. Jessica Eccles, and published in The British Journal of Psychiatry, key brain mechanisms were thought to explain these connections. The study found that differences in the amygdala in people with hypermobility made them more sensitive to pain and anxiety, and it noted that their autonomic functions (symptoms include fatigue, fainting, and gut problems) were disrupted.
In this webinar, Dr. Eccles will explain: