Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated condition, and people with PsA may be at a higher risk of developing many neurological conditions.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated condition that affects your joints. If you have PsA, you may be at a greater risk of developing some neurological conditions.
The increased risk may be due to inflammation caused by an autoimmune response to PsA or psoriasis.
Read on to learn more about PsA and the risk of developing some neurological conditions if you have PsA.
Arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes swollen and painful joints. Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that causes thick scaly patches on the skin.
A 2019 review of studies indicated that about 1 in 4 people who have psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which causes both sets of symptoms.
People with PsA are at a higher risk of developing many neurological and other health conditions than the general population. This increased risk is at least partially explained by the increased levels of inflammation caused by psoriasis.
Read on to learn which neurological and other health conditions people with PsA have an elevated risk of developing.
Medical professionals used to think psoriasis was only a skin disorder, but it’s now known that it can affect many organ systems, not just the skin.
Elevated levels of inflammation can contribute to the development of neurological complications, such as:
In a
Neuropathic pain is often described as shooting, burning, or stabbing. It’s caused by damaged nerve fibers that send pain signals to your brain.
Chronic inflammation in people with psoriasis can lead to the release of molecules called prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin I2, which stimulate pain receptors and lead to neuropathic pain.
The risk of developing seizures seems to be higher in people with psoriasis and in people with other autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation than in the general population.
A 2019 literature review highlighted research noting that the odds of having epilepsy were 1.9 times higher in people with psoriasis than in the general population.
Shared risk factors between seizures and psoriasis, such as diabetes, may also contribute to this connection.
In a
But a 2023 case-control study showed participants with psoriasis had a higher likelihood of migraine, regardless of a person’s sex assigned at birth. More research on this connection is needed.
A 2016 review of four studies found that people with psoriasis develop Parkinson’s disease
A 2019 review of studies that included more than 6 million participants, found a significantly increased risk of schizophrenia in those with psoriasis compared with individuals who did not have psoriasis.
Study authors suggest that the connection might be due to common genetic susceptibility or immune mechanisms between the two conditions. They recommend dermatologists and other healthcare professionals who take care of people with psoriasis may want to be prepared to provide early psychiatric referrals for individuals who have signs and symptoms of psychosis or schizophrenia.
More recently, research has focused on the relationship between the gut microbiome and CNS activity, inflammation, or both.
Research is also ongoing about the microbiome and conditions like psoriasis and schizophrenia. More research is needed about the relationship between these conditions and the microbiome.
More research is needed
The 2024 research analysis examined genome-wide association studies and found no significant association between psoriasis and migraine, Parkinson’s disease, or epilepsy.
More research is needed in different populations before any association between psoriasis and these conditions can be determined.
People with psoriasis and PsA have an increased risk of developing stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than the general population, according to a
An
Psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of developing many other health conditions, such as:
Back and neck pain
Chronic back or neck pain is a common feature of PsA. Anywhere from
When PsA symptoms develop in the spine and pelvis, it’s known as psoriatic spondylitis.
Uveitis and vision problems
Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of your eye which consists of your iris, the muscles underneath, and the tissue filled with blood vessels. It can cause eye pain, redness, and vision problems.
A review of literature from 2019 highlights research indicating that
Infections
Immune dysfunction seems to cause PsA, so the body’s ability to fight infection is impaired. Medications that are used to treat PsA are immune suppressants, so they can also lower the body’s ability to fight infections.
A person with PsA may experience an infection-triggered flare-up of symptoms due to the body’s immune response in fighting the infection.
In a
Cardiovascular disease
It’s well established that psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that people with PsA have a
Researchers suggest it is still unclear if psoriasis may contribute to cardiovascular disease or if having cardiovascular does increase the risk of psoriasis. They suggest the mechanisms of development of both conditions are related.
Diabetes
Psoriasis is associated with a
Digestive disorders
In a 2020 study, researchers reviewed discharge data they gathered from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). Their research indicated psoriasis and PsA were associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease, an umbrella term that includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Researchers also found an association between psoriasis and 21 out of 23 other gastrointestinal diseases they examined, including:
Obesity
Experts believe that people with obesity develop PsA
Weight loss has been shown to improve PsA symptoms in people with obesity.
Depression
According to a
Treatment for neurological conditions varies widely depending on the condition. It’s important to regularly talk with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan.
Here’s a summary of some of the most common treatment options. These neurological treatments are the same for people who have PsA and for people who do not have the condition.
However, care needs to be taken to avoid drug interactions, since people with PsA would likely be taking medication for their PsA in addition to other conditions they may have.
| Condition | Treatment |
|---|---|
| neuropathic pain | |
| seizures | . anticonvulsants . keto diet . electrical stimulation |
| migraine | . pain relievers . migraine medications to manage symptoms |
| Parkinson’s disease | . medication . physical therapy . surgery |
| schizophrenia | . antipsychotic medications . psychosocial treatment, like therapy or social skills training |
| stroke | . emergency treatment . surgery |
Psoriasis was once believed to only be a skin condition, but it’s now known that it can affect many parts of your body, such as your joints and nervous system.
Psoriasis and PsA may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and migraine.
If you have PsA, it’s important to talk with your doctor if you notice any change in your symptoms or if you suspect you’re developing an associated condition like uveitis.
With your doctor’s help, you can learn to manage many PsA complications and maintain a high quality of life.