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pain

·June 28, 2025·3 min read

Regular Sex May Ease Painful Menopause Symptoms

A new study reveals that women who engage in regular sexual activity experience fewer symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), such as vaginal dryness, irritation, and pain. In a survey of over 900 women aged 40 to 79, researchers found that while sexual desire and lubrication declined with age, orgasm and satisfaction remained stable.

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

·June 19, 2025·5 min read

Pain Perception in Babies Develops in Stages After Birth

A new study shows that the networks responsible for processing pain in infants develop gradually, with emotional and cognitive pain responses maturing only after birth. Researchers scanned the brains of 372 infants, primarily born prematurely, to track how three brain subsystems related to pain perception matured over time.

This shows a man holding his head in pain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 19, 2025·6 min read

How Sleep Deprivation Amplifies Pain in Migraine

New research reveals that sleep deprivation alters how the brain processes pain in people with migraines. Using EEG and pain stimulation, scientists found that migraine sufferers’ brains respond differently after poor sleep, showing reduced ability to suppress pain signals.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·June 10, 2025·3 min read

How Acetaminophen Silences Pain Before It Reaches the Brain

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) doesn’t just work in the brain—it also shuts off pain at its source in the peripheral nerves. The study found that after taking paracetamol, the body produces a compound called AM404 directly in pain-sensing nerve endings.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 24, 2025·4 min read

Placebo Triggers Brain’s Opioid System to Relieve Pain

Researchers have successfully induced the placebo effect in rats, uncovering the neural mechanisms behind how belief in pain relief can reduce the perception of pain. Using conditioning, rats learned to associate injections with pain relief, and later exhibited reduced pain responses even when injected with saline.

Featured Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·May 20, 2025·6 min read

Depression May Signal Chronic Pain Years Before It Starts

Middle-aged and older adults who experience chronic pain often show worsening symptoms of depression up to eight years before the pain begins. A large-scale study found that depressive symptoms and loneliness increased long before pain onset, suggesting mental health may play a causal role in later physical discomfort.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 20, 2025·4 min read

Next-Gen Painkiller Blocks Pain Without the High

Summary: A new experimental drug, SBI-810, may deliver potent pain relief without the addictive and harmful side effects of opioids....

Featured Neurology Pain Psychology

·May 19, 2025·5 min read

How Therapy Rewires the Brain to Ease Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects one in five adults, and medication alone doesn’t always offer relief. A new review reveals that psychological treatments—particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—can reduce pain through measurable changes in the brain. The review of multiple studies found that therapy shifts brain network activity, helping people loosen harmful thought patterns and reduce emotional stress linked to pain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 17, 2025·4 min read

Tylenol Targets Pain Through Unexpected Endocannabinoid Pathway

A new study reveals that acetaminophen (Tylenol) relieves pain by reducing levels of an endocannabinoid called 2-AG, rather than increasing it as previously thought. This discovery challenges decades-old assumptions about how pain relief works and may open the door to designing safer, more targeted medications.

This shows a foot radiating red light, symbolizing pain.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 13, 2025·7 min read

Century-Old Mystery May Hold the Key to Diabetic Nerve Pain

A little-known cellular structure called the Nageotte nodule—first described over 100 years ago—has been identified as a key feature of diabetic neuropathy in new research. These nodules, made of decayed sensory neurons and support cells, were found in abundance in the sensory ganglia of diabetic organ donors.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain

·May 7, 2025·5 min read

Gut Microbiome Reveals Chronic Pain Risk, AI Study Finds

New research shows that AI can identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with over 90% accuracy by analyzing gut microbiome patterns. Despite differences in geography and diet, a shared "microbiome signature" was detected across patients from Israel and Canada.