Most conversations about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome focus on joint hypermobility, ligament laxity, pain, and the musculoskeletal system. But is that enough to explain the brain fog, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, sensory overload, anxiety, and autonomic symptoms many people with EDS experience?
In this episode, Dr. Spencer Zimmerman NP, DC, DACNB reviews a 2025 research paper exploring the neurological and neuropsychological side of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
You’ll learn about:
The 13 recognized EDS subtypes and why hypermobile EDS receives the most attention
Brain structural differences associated with EDS
Chiari malformation and craniocervical instability
Small fiber neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction
The overlap between EDS, POTS, and reduced cerebral blood flow
How impaired proprioception may affect balance, coordination, joint stability, and injury risk
The roles of interoception, sensory processing, and neurological efficiency
Why anxiety, panic disorders, depression, ADHD, and autism are discussed in EDS research
How the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem may contribute to symptoms
Why normal structural imaging does not necessarily rule out impaired neurological function
The presence of a structural finding such as Chiari malformation or craniocervical instability does not automatically mean it explains every symptom. At the same time, treating EDS as purely a joint and connective-tissue condition may leave major pieces of the problem unaddressed.
This episode explains why people with EDS may need an integrated approach that considers the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, autonomic regulation, mental health, blood flow, immune function, and the way the brain processes information from the body.
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