A built-in 'off switch' to stop persistent pain
9 hours ago
- #neuroscience
- #chronic-pain
- #brain-research
- Nearly 50 million people in the U.S. live with chronic pain, an invisible and often stubborn condition that can last for decades.
- Research led by neuroscientist J. Nicholas Betley identifies a critical hub in the brainstem with a built-in 'off switch' to stop persistent pain signals.
- Y1 receptor (Y1R)-expressing neurons in the brainstem’s lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN) play a key role in regulating long-term pain states.
- These neurons integrate information about hunger, fear, and thirst, allowing pain signals to be modulated by other urgent survival needs.
- Neuropeptide Y (NPY) acts on Y1 receptors to dampen ongoing pain signals when more immediate needs like hunger or fear arise.
- The findings suggest potential for new treatments targeting these neurons and behavioral interventions like exercise and meditation.
- The research could help clinicians better understand and treat chronic pain by focusing on brain circuits rather than just injury sites.