Nerve damage in the feet and hands, also known as neuropathy, is more common than many realize — and often goes undiagnosed.
A new study in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, reveals that this condition affects many people and can lead to serious complications like pain, falls, infections, and even amputation.
“More than one-third of people with neuropathy feel sharp, shock-like pain that lowers their quality of life and increases their risk of depression,” said Dr. Melissa A. Elafros, the study’s lead author from the University of Michigan.
“Neuropathy also raises the risk of early death, so it’s critical to find and treat it early.”
Researchers studied 169 people at a community clinic in Flint, Michigan, most of whom had low incomes and were on Medicaid. The average participant was 58 years old, and nearly 70% were Black.
Study showed half had diabetes (a common cause of neuropathy). About 67% had metabolic syndrome — a group of conditions like belly fat, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol levels
All participants were tested for a specific type of nerve damage called distal symmetric polyneuropathy.
Shocking results: 73% had neuropathy, but 75% of them had never been told by a doctor.
Nearly 60% of those with neuropathy experienced ongoing pain.
People with metabolic syndrome were over four times more likely to have neuropathy than those without it, even after adjusting for other health conditions.
This shows that not just diabetes, but also other risk factors like belly fat and high blood pressure, play a major role in nerve damage.
The study also looked at whether race and income affected nerve damage risk. Interestingly: There was no link between income and neuropathy. Black participants had a lower risk of neuropathy, even though they made up 69% of the study population
“The number of people with undiagnosed neuropathy in this study is extremely high,” said Dr. Elafros. “We urgently need better ways to diagnose and treat it, and to manage the risk factors that lead to it.”
The researchers hope this study brings attention to the hidden burden of nerve damage, especially among older adults and people with metabolic syndrome.
This study was supported by several U.S. health institutes including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
The study is published in Neurology.
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