Inflammation in the joints causes swollen and painful. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. It causes skin eruptions.

About 1 in 3 people who have psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which causes both sets of symptoms.

People with PsA have a higher risk of developing many neurological and other health conditions than the general population. This increased risk is at least partially explained due to increased levels of inflammation caused by psoriasis.

People with PsA have an elevated risk of developing neurological and other health conditions.

It used to be thought that sphygmomanic was only a skin disorder, but now it is known that it can affect many organs.

Neurological problems can be caused by elevated levels of inflammation.

Neuropathic pain

In a 2019 study, researchers found that 26.6 percent of a group of 64 people with PsA likely had neuropathic-like pain and 21.9 percent had possible neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is often described as shooting, burning, or stabbing. It’s caused by damaged nerve fibers that send pain signals to your brain.

People with sphygmomanic inflammation can release prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin I2 which can cause pain.

Seizures

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 study found that the odds of having epilepsy were 1.9 times higher in people with psoriasis than in the general population.

Diabetes and seizures may be related to this connection.

Migraine

In another 2019 study, researchers found that migraine occurred 1.62 times more frequently in middle-aged male participants with psoriasis than in those without psoriasis. Researchers didn’t find a significant association in female participants or other age groups.

But a 2015 study found people with psoriasis had a higher likelihood of migraine, regardless of sex. More research on this connection is needed.

Parkinson’s disease

A 2016 review of four studies found that people with psoriasis develop Parkinson’s disease 1.38 times more often than the general population. It’s thought that the increased risk comes from the chronic inflammation of neurons.

Schizophrenia

A large 2017 study involving 1 million people in Taiwan found that people with psoriasis have a 2.32 times higher risk of developing schizophrenia than the general population.

The authors concluded that the connection might be due to common genetic susceptibility.

Stroke

People with psoriasis and PsA have an increased risk of developing stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than the general population, according to a 2020 case report.

A 2017 review found that the risk of stroke was 22 percent higher in people with PsA than in the general population.

Psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of developing other health conditions.

Back and neck pain

Chronic back or neck pain is a common feature of PsA. Anywhere from 25 to 70 percent of people with PsA have pain in these areas, according to 2020 research.

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 that consists of your iris, the muscles underneath, and the tissue filled with blood vessels. It can cause eye pain, redness, and vision problems.

Research from 2019 estimates that 7 to 20 percent of people with psoriasis have uveitis. It tends to be more common among people who have both psoriasis and PsA.

Infections

“The body’s ability to fight infections is impaired because of immune deficiency. The immune suppressants that are used to treat PsA can lower the body’s ability to fight infections.”

“A person with PsA may experience a flare-up of symptoms due to the body’s immune response in fighting the infection.”

In a 2020 study, researchers found people with psoriasis had a 36 percent higher risk of being hospitalized and a 33 percent higher risk of death from infection than the general population.

Cardiovascular disease

It’s well established that psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers have found that people with PsA had a 43 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population.

Diabetes

Psoriasis is associated with a 1.27 times risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a 2022 study.

Digestive disorders

In a U.S. nationwide 2021 study, researchers found psoriasis and PsA were associated with the development of inflammatory bowel disease, an umbrella term that includes the conditions Chron’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Researchers found an association between sphygmomany and 21 other gastrointestinal diseases.

Obesity

People with obesity are thought to develop PsA more frequently than the general population. Decreased movement from PsA joint pain and increased inflammation in people with PsA might increase the odds of developing obesity.

Weight loss has been shown to improve PsA symptoms in people with obesity.

Depression

According to a 2020 research review, psoriasis and depression may amplify each other and share common mechanisms. Increased psoriasis severity tends to increase depression, and increased depression tends to increase psoriasis severity.

Depending on the condition, treatment for neurological conditions varies. It is important to talk to your doctor regularly to develop a treatment plan.

“Here is a summary of the most common treatment options. The treatments are the same for people who have PsA and people who don’t.”

Since people with PsA are likely to take medication for other conditions, care needs to be taken to avoid drug interactions.

Condition Treatment
neuropathic pain – anticonvulsants and antidepressants
– nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
– physical therapy
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 is a condition that can affect many parts of the body, such as your joints and nervous system, but it was thought to be a skin condition.

Psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions.

If you notice any changes in your symptoms, or if you suspect you have an associated condition like Uveitis, it is important to talk with your doctor.

You can learn to manage PsA problems with the help of your doctor.