The Secret of Chronic Pain Could Lie in the Skull
Skull bone marrow has become an exciting research topic The post The Secret of Chronic Pain Could Lie in the Skull appeared first on Nautilus .
Chronic pain might be linked to the skull, according to a new study published in Science Translational Medicine. Researchers from Harvard Medical School used PET and MRI scans to examine the skulls of 125 individuals suffering from chronic low back pain or knee osteoarthritis. They discovered heightened levels of translocator protein (TPSO) in the skull marrow of those experiencing chronic pain compared to healthy controls. TPSO is a protein associated with neutrophil activity, a type of immune cell.
The intensity of the chronic pain was directly correlated with stronger TSPO PET signals. These elevated signals were also linked to psychological symptoms of chronic pain, such as anxiety and depression, and exhibited a preference for the left side of the skull. The researchers believe that inflammatory signals originating in the brain may travel through tiny channels in the skull bone marrow to activate and mobilize immune cells, contributing to chronic pain. However, further research is needed to investigate this hypothesis fully.
If these findings hold true, the skull could potentially become a target for chronic pain treatments, such as pharmaceuticals or low-intensity ultrasound. As more researchers focus on the skull, relief from chronic pain might be within reach.
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