Is chronic pain caused by brain nerve cells? Doctor: Do 2 more exercises to cultivate "self-rescue mode"
Chronic pain always entangled with negative emotions? Research: Abnormal nerve cell activity
If you often feel depressed, anxious, or in a bad mood, “chronic pain” may be at play! Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University and Taipei Veterans General Hospital jointly published the latest mouse experiments, which found that there are overlapping “neural circuits” between chronic pain and negative emotions, and specific nerve cells were found in the brains of mice with chronic pain. Increased somatostatin cell activity may be responsible for driving chronic pain and negative emotions. The research team also found that drugs for treating chronic myalgia can alleviate pain and negative emotion-related behaviors in mice. The research has been published in the international scientific journal “Digital Life Sciences” (eLife).
Lian Zhengzhang, dean of life sciences at Yang-Ming Jiaotong University, said that the “amygdala” in the brain is an important brain area that governs emotions and is also the sensory output and emotional center. This study found that chronic pain is related to an abnormal increase in the activity of specific nerve cells in the amygdala, which also explains why chronic pain and negative emotions are often entangled, and specific drugs are used to reduce and inhibit the activity of overly sensitive neurons. It has been found in mice that it can improve chronic pain and negative emotions, and is expected to become a future research direction in the treatment of chronic pain and related comorbidities.
Somatostatin cell sensitization! Mouse study: Early drug administration blocks pain
Lin Yuling, the first author of the study and a doctoral candidate at the School of Life Sciences at Yang-Ming Jiaotong University, said that compared with healthy mice, there is a group of “somostatin cells” in the amygdala of the brains of chronic mice, and the activity of nerve cells increases significantly, which is called " Sensitization", resulting in higher pain responses in mice. The study also found that if drugs are given in the early stages of chronic pain or the activity of specific nerve cells in the central area of the amygdala is inhibited, the development of chronic pain and negative emotions can be effectively blocked.
However, although mice and humans have similar brain structures, there are still differences in neural circuits and connections. Lian Zhengzhang said that current clinical research still faces the limitations of advanced technologies such as chemical genetics and optogenetics. In the future, he hopes to regulate the generation of chronic pain through The activity of specific nerve cells and the development of therapeutic methods that can be applied clinically will bring substantial help to the prevention and treatment of chronic pain.
30% of the world’s population suffers from chronic pain! Doctor: “Bitterness” may become painful if it lasts for a long time
The problem of “chronic pain” is a health problem that plagues many people. According to the US CDC data, about 30% of the world’s population is affected by chronic pain, causing a huge social burden. Due to limitations in research methods, more breakthroughs are needed in human experiments on chronic pain. Chen Shibin, a neurologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said that patients with chronic pain not only feel pain, but also a large number of negative emotions of “suffering”. There is no objective measurement of “suffering” and “pain” in patients. Data, there is still a long way to go from mouse research to clinical application.
Dr. Chen Shibin explained that the International Pain Classification divides chronic pain into seven categories. In addition to primary chronic pain, cancer, trauma and other diseases may be the cause. In addition, human genes are relatively complex, and interactions between family, society, and the environment may be the cause. Causes chronic pain and negative emotions. Further research is needed in the future to find out the neurons in the human brain that control pain and negative emotions.
How can chronic pain patients “help themselves”? Doctor: Exercise more to help with emotional healing
Wang Shujun, director of the Neurological Medicine Center of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, said that fibromyalgia is one of the causes of chronic pain, and clinically it affects mostly women. This type of chronic pain is characterized by “widespread pain” that is often associated with fatigue, sleep disorders, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. Common painkillers on the market alone are ineffective.
Dr. Wang Shujun said that patients with chronic pain should seek medical treatment as soon as possible and develop a “self-rescue model” other than medical treatment, including appropriate aerobic exercise and Tai Chi practice. Research shows that exercise can help with emotional healing, and a gradual exercise approach can help improve pain problems through continuous and stable exercise frequency.
Dr. Wang Shujun pointed out that various chronic pain conditions are different. For example, the causes and treatments of fibromyalgia and chronic migraine are different. The results of this mouse study prove that specific neural circuits in the brain’s amygdala can explain both symptoms and treatment methods. It is expected to point out possible directions for treating related diseases in the future. We look forward to more research and development and applications to benefit those suffering from chronic pain. patient.
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