Scientists are discovering promising approaches to treating pain, one of the most common and debilitating neurological complaints, according to research released November 15 at Neuroscience 2011, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health. Studies show that "mirror box therapy" can help reduce arthritis-related pain, and that a new opioid-like drug may be able to relieve acute pain without the euphoric effects that can lead to dependency. Additional research also identifies the possible neurobiological source of common side effects of morphine.
Specifically, today's new findings show that:
Other recent findings discussed show:
"Pain is one of the most intransigent and difficult symptoms to treat," said Allan I. Basbaum, PhD, FRS, of the University of California, San Francisco, press conference moderator and expert on the neurobiology of pain. "These studies and others are helping us better understand the complex neural pathways involved in pain and the long-term consequences of injury. With this, researchers will be better poised to develop approaches to alleviate pain and aid in recovery from injuries."
Story Source:
Materials provided by Society for Neuroscience. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Cite This Page: