Latest

chronic pain

·April 23, 2026·7 min read

25% of Chronic Pain Patients Show ADHD Traits

A study of 1,000 Japanese patients reveals that undiagnosed ADHD traits may be a hidden driver behind treatment-resistant chronic pain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·April 16, 2026·8 min read

The Brain Circuitry of Placebo Pain Relief

Researchers have pinpointed the brain's "placebo circuit." By training the brain to release its own endorphins in the vlPAG region, they achieved broad-spectrum pain relief without the need for addictive drugs.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·April 2, 2026·9 min read

Brain Circuit That “Invents” Chronic Pain Identified

Neuroscientists have identified a dedicated brain circuit responsible for chronic pain. By silencing this loop, researchers were able to end pain hypersensitivity in mice without affecting their ability to feel necessary, acute pain.

This shows a person holding their head in pain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·March 19, 2026·9 min read

Why Chronic Pain Leads to Depression

New research reveals that the hippocampus acts as a control center for chronic pain, and a specific "inflammatory switch" determines who develops depression.

This shows a head and an inflamed brain. Overlaid is a fingerprint.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·March 3, 2026·8 min read

AI Decodes the “Brain Fingerprint” of Chronic Pain

Researchers identify personalized "pain connectomes" in the brain, proving that chronic pain can be objectively measured through precision neuroimaging.

This shows a woman holding her head in pain. She is surrounded by immune cells.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 20, 2026·7 min read

Why Pain Lingers Longer in Women

It’s not in your head; it’s in your immune system. Scientists discover the biological "off-switch" that explains why chronic pain persists longer for women.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·October 8, 2025·8 min read

Hunger, Fear, and the Brain’s Hidden Switch to Turn Off Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects nearly 50 million Americans, yet new research reveals the brain may have an internal switch that can turn it down. Scientists identified a group of neurons in the brainstem that regulate long-term pain by integrating signals related to hunger, fear, and thirst.

This shows a woman holding chocolate and a table with pain pills.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·October 8, 2025·6 min read

Why Comfort Food Feels Like Medicine for People in Chronic Pain

A new study reveals that more than two-thirds of people living with chronic pain turn to comfort foods—especially chocolate—for emotional relief and distraction during flare-ups. Eating provides temporary pleasure and even mild pain relief, likely due to biological effects of high-calorie foods on the brain’s reward and pain systems.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·June 20, 2025·4 min read

Chronic Pain Linked to Neuron Overactivity in the Brainstem

A new study reveals that neurons in the brainstem respond very differently to acute versus chronic pain, potentially explaining why some pain persists long after injury. In acute pain, neurons in the medullary dorsal horn reduce their activity through a natural “braking” system involving A-type potassium currents, helping limit pain signals.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·December 9, 2024·3 min read

New Target for Chronic Pain Identified

Researchers have identified a natural substance, hederagenin, that blocks the NPFFR1 receptor, a protein involved in pain perception in the brain and spinal cord. NPFFR1 has long been a challenging target due to its similarities to related receptors, but advanced screening and computer modeling revealed its unique binding mode.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Pain

·October 7, 2024·3 min read

Genetic Mapping Unlocks Path to Effective Chronic Pain Relief

Researchers have developed a comprehensive atlas that maps genetic activity in nerve cells linked to chronic pain, offering a potential breakthrough in non-addictive treatments. The study highlights key pain-sensitive nerve cell states, allowing for new therapeutic targets, such as senescent cells. Administering senolytic treatments in mice led to full recovery from pain without side effects, providing hope for chronic pain patients.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·October 3, 2024·4 min read

Chronic Pain Patients Favor Cannabis Legalization

A study found that 71% of adults with chronic pain support federal legalization of medical cannabis, compared to 59% of physicians. The research highlights a gap in attitudes toward cannabis policies between patients and doctors, especially regarding insurance coverage for cannabis treatments.