Harvard Finds Link Between Pain and Sleep Disturbance

Many of us have experienced waking up with a sore back after a restless night, only for that pain to then disrupt our sleep on the following night. Now, Harvard researchers have identified a potential connection between pain and disturbed sleep, suggesting a possible means to break this cycle.

Countless individuals experience persistent pain, hindering their engagement in daily activities. Among these, sleep is particularly affected, as discomfort and pain do not contribute to a restful night. Furthermore, disrupted sleep can heighten sensitivity to pain, creating an unfavorable cycle.

Harvard and MGH Researchers Identify Link Between Pain and Sleep Disruption through NADA Neurotransmitter

In a recent investigation, researchers from Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have pinpointed a connecting factor between pain and disrupted sleep—a crucial initial stride toward potential treatments. The critical element in this link is a neurotransmitter called NADA.

Neurotransmitters, chemical messengers released by neurons for communication, act on various receptors. NADA, in particular, targets cannabinoid receptor one in the brain. This receptor appears to influence pain perception and is also the target of certain marijuana strains, potentially elucidating the pain-relieving effects of the drug.

In experiments involving mice, the scientists observed that persistent sleep disruption led to a decrease in NADA levels in the brain. While this doesn’t necessarily augment the actual presence of pain, it appears to intensify the perception of pain, making it feel more severe than the previous day.

Shiqian Shen, Lead Author, Highlights the Internal Control of Pain Perception

Shiqian Shen, the lead author of the study, remarked, “Pain in human beings is a very subjective experience. After sleep loss, even if there’s no exaggerated stimulation, we still feel pain. That means something internal is controlling the pain, like a room thermostat controlling temperature.”

The research team may have identified a means to regulate this internal control. When additional NADA was administered to the sleep-deprived mice, the perception of pain decreased. This implies that developing drugs to elevate NADA levels in humans could potentially assist in pain relief and disrupt the detrimental cycle between pain and disturbed sleep.

Naturally, this research is in its preliminary phases, and further testing is required to ascertain whether a similar effect occurs in humans.

Read the original article on: New atlas

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