Fibromyalgia is a medical condition that is closely related to chronic fatigue syndrome, though they are not the same thing. Someone with Fibromyalgia is often weak and tired because the body is not resting at night. It also seems to be related to arthritis and stiffening of joints and ligaments. Though it can be hard to diagnose, doctors often use a patient description of symptoms along with checking a series of points on the body to check for pain and tenderness. Studies and statistics show that age might play a factor in Fibromyalgia.

There are different stages of sleep that cycle each night. The deepest cycle of sleep is when the body and the mind both repair from the damage of the day before. When the sleep is interrupted, this deep sleep is not achieved, and the healing can not be done. This means a person with Fibromyalgia will not only feel like they are sometimes in a mental fog, they will also experience many problems with healing and well being. Sufferers also have problems with muscles and connecting tissues, leaving them feeling sore and stiff upon awakening in the morning.

Women are more likely to be diagnosed with this condition, and it was once thought that the prime age to be diagnosed is between 20 and 50. However, the numbers of those that are diagnosed after the age of 50 are higher, and continue to climb. The numbers of those with Fibromyalgia and their respective ages is hard to gauge though, as there are still many medical professionals who do not think there has been enough evidence to support the claim that this is a real condition. However, the percentages of those diagnosed at an older age are rising.

Though some say that the age of patients means nothing, others say it is significant. It might be that as the body ages the problems with joints and muscles are more common, and thus so are the occurrences of Fibromyalgia. Others suggest that because some doctors do not recognize it, people are not getting diagnosed when they have it at a younger age, and are much older when a doctor finally says that they do indeed have Fibromyalgia. It might even be that this condition is easier to diagnose the younger a patient might be.

The chances of developing Fibromyalgia do seem to grow as a person ages, but there is yet to be an established pattern for diagnosis. The body does not work as well when it ages, and that might lead to more diagnosis. There are many other conditions that mimic Fibromyalgia, so it is hard to determine sometimes exactly what the patient is suffering from.

Often, a doctor will eliminate many different conditions before finally testing for Fibromyalgia. The important thing to remember is that aging can bring about arthritis and diminished mental acuity. Someone with these problems may or may not have Fibromyalgia. It stands to reason that older adults are more likely to have it, but they are also more likely to be misdiagnosed.