{
  "id": 7323392,
  "title": "Shingles can cause severe chronic pain – new research on how exosomes alter neurons offers pathways to treatment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/shingles-can-cause-severe-chronic-pain-new-research-on-how-exosomes",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-14T12:40:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation",
    "slug": "the-conversation",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/shingles-can-cause-severe-chronic-pain-new-research-on-how-exosomes-alter-neurons-offers-pathways-to-treatment-290398"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Varicella zoster virus, responsible for chickenpox and shingles, can cause debilitating chronic pain that often lasts for months or even years. This pain, known as post-herpetic neuralgia, remains a significant challenge for doctors to treat. The underlying mechanisms behind this condition are still not well-understood, resulting in limited treatment options. Recent research from a team published in Annals of Neurology suggests that exosomes, tiny circulating particles in the blood, may offer new insights into the development of post-herpetic neuralgia, potentially leading to innovative treatments.",
  "summary": "The pain of post-herpetic neuralgia can drive people to the point of suicide. Researchers are getting closer to pinpointing its cause – which may extend to other forms of neuropathy.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Medical Xpress",
        "title": "Shingles can cause severe chronic pain—new research on how exosomes alter neurons offers pathways to treatment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/shingles-can-cause-severe-chronic-pain-new-research-on-how-exosomes-7350023",
        "published": "2026-09-14T15:40:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}