A new national survey of more than 1,500 U.S. adults has found that nearly half of Americans (48%) are living with ongoing pain or illness that either has no clear explanation or is not responding to medical treatment as expected. The survey, conducted by the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms in partnership with XandY, reveals the widespread prevalence of neuroplastic symptoms and their significant impact on public health. The research indicates that tens of millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain or illness that is not always caused by injury or disease.
New research shows that the brain can generate pain or illness anywhere in the body through learned nerve pathways that are reversible. These neuroplastic symptoms are significantly influenced by stress, trauma, emotions, and other life challenges. The healthcare costs associated with these conditions are greater than for diabetes, cancer, and heart disease combined. David Clarke, MD, President of ATNS and a board-certified gastroenterologist, emphasized the treatment gap. "There are highly effective treatments for these conditions, but few people know about them," Clarke stated. "They work by training your brain to recognize and turn off unnecessary danger signals. What is most needed now is greater awareness, widespread professional training, and much better access to these solutions."
The survey findings demonstrate the scope of the problem. Among those most likely to have neuroplastic symptoms, 63% have been experiencing their current symptoms for up to five years, while 37% have had their symptoms for more than five years. The diversity of symptoms is substantial, with 65% reporting chronic back or neck pain; 57% experiencing muscle, limb, or joint pain; 43% suffering from chronic fatigue; and 35% dealing with headaches or migraines. Most affected individuals live with several conditions simultaneously.
Public perception and acceptance of psychological approaches show promise for treatment adoption. Of people with symptoms, 76-97% believe their symptom could have a psychological cause at least "some of the time." Among those most likely to have neuroplastic symptoms, 47% say they are either "definitely" or "probably" willing to try neuroplastic psychological treatment, while only 20% say they "definitely" or "probably" would not. Treatment effectiveness has been documented in recent clinical trials. In the Boulder Back Pain study, pain improved by an average of 75% in just four weeks using Neuroplastic Recovery Therapies. At UCLA, male veterans achieved at least 30% pain relief nearly four times as often (63%) as those treated with traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (17%).
These results indicate that people suffering from neuroplastic conditions would accept and benefit from effective treatment if awareness increases and access barriers are addressed. Co-author Matthew Goldberg, PhD, emphasized the significance of these findings. "This is not a fringe issue. Chronic, unexplained pain and illness are an urgent problem for many. Awareness of and access to effective treatments can be life-changing, as it has been for me." Co-author Abel Gustafson, PhD, added that "these findings are a roadmap for change" toward increasing understanding and treatment of neuroplastic symptoms among the public, patients, and practitioners. To illustrate the human impact behind the research, ATNS has released a short video available at https://www.symptomatic.me featuring leading researchers, clinicians, and patients who have recovered. The organization's long-term vision is to dramatically increase understanding and treatment accessibility for neuroplastic symptoms, ensuring people receive the same quality of care as patients with organ disease or injury.
