A study published in the journal Brain revealed that a woman named Jo Cameron, who has a genetic mutation, feels no pain, fear, or anxiety.
A mother of two from Scotland, could be a key figure in the development of more effective painkillers, new research suggests. Jo Cameron has never felt the need for pain medication. She is one of only two known individuals worldwide who carry a unique gene that enables her to live without anxiety, fear, or physical discomfort. Now, scientists have begun unraveling the mechanisms of this rare mutation, fostering hope for the creation of improved pain relievers.
“The initial discovery of the genetic root of Jo Cameron’s unique phenotype was a eureka moment and hugely exciting, but these current findings are where things really start to get interesting,” says Professor James Cox from the University College London Medical School, the study’s senior author, in a media release. “By understanding precisely what is happening at a molecular level, we...