Allodynia News and Research

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Allodynia, meaning "other pain", is a painful (noxious) response to a usually non-painful (innocuous) stimulus and can be either static or mechanical. Allodynia differs from referred pain, but can occur in areas other than the one stimulated. It is dysesthetic. Allodynia is different from hyperalgesia, an extreme reaction to a stimulus which is normally painful.

GLP-1 drugs may influence chronic pain through gut-brain and immune pathways

Researchers reviewed evidence linking GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists to chronic pain modulation through gut microbial, neuroimmune, vagal, and metabolic pathways, with the strongest clinical evidence currently involving knee osteoarthritis and idiopathic intracranial hypertension headache. Much of the proposed biology remains supported by preclinical research, and human studies have yet to establish that GLP-1RA-induced changes in the gut microbiome directly cause pain relief.

24 Sep 2026

Psilocybin protects sensory nerves from chemotherapy damage in preclinical study

In mouse models, prophylactic psilocybin prevented or reduced multiple features of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with cycle-matched dosing sustaining protection during repeated cisplatin exposure without measurably affecting tumor growth. Experiments in human-derived sensory neurons and ex vivo peripheral nerves linked the effect to 5-HT2A-dependent preservation of mitochondrial trafficking and local axonal energy supply, while a nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonist reproduced protection against mechanical hypersensitivity.

6 Sep 2026

AI platform uncovers promising target for chronic pain treatmen

Despite the widespread availability of analgesics, pain management remains one of the most significant and pervasive challenges in modern medicine, with more than 20% of the global population suffering from chronic pain, especially chronic neuropathic pain characterized by central sensitization.

22 Jul 2026

The molecular mechanism that turns cool temps into nerve signals

When you reach into a bucket of ice, open your front door on a snowy day, or feel the tingle of menthol toothpaste, a protein in your nerve cells called TRPM8 springs into action, opening like a tiny gate to send a "cold" signal to your brain.

26 Mar 2026

NIH’s continued investment fuels TMJ pain research

Chronic pain is one of the most common health conditions worldwide. Back pain is the most frequently reported type, followed closely by head and face pain linked to the jaw joint, in the form of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

27 Feb 2026

Silencing a specific brain circuit can prevent and reverse chronic pain

A neural circuit hidden in an understudied region of the brain plays a critical role in turning temporary pain into pain that can last months or years, according to new University of Colorado Boulder research.

27 Jan 2026

NIH study reveals how inflammation affects pain perception

Researchers uncover the cellular and molecular basis for sensing heat and inflammatory pain.

24 Apr 2025

FDA approved anti-inflammatory drug shows promise for treating alcohol use disorder and pain

A preclinical study from scientists at Scripps Research finds that a drug already FDA-approved for treating inflammatory conditions may help reduce both alcohol intake and pain sensitivity-two issues that commonly co-occur with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

22 Apr 2025

New approach to treating chronic pain without opioids

Chronic pain, a common and debilitating condition, often leads practitioners to prescribe opioids in escalating doses.

22 Apr 2025

Study sheds light on why women experience chronic pain more than men

A new study led by University of Calgary professor Dr. Tuan Trang, PhD, may help to explain why there is an over-representation of women experiencing chronic pain compared to men.

18 Mar 2025

Hidden culprit: Human metapneumovirus identified in severe adult pneumonia case

Severe pneumonia caused by human metapneumovirus in an immunocompetent adult highlights diagnostic challenges and underscores the need for rapid molecular diagnostics to improve outcomes.

6 Jan 2025

Herpes zoster vaccination and healthy aging: Study connect the dots

Vaccination with recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) prevents Herpes Zoster (HZ) infection.

30 Nov 2023

New insights into migraine etiology: the role of hepatocyte growth factor

The causal links between pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and migraine.

10 Nov 2023

Mast cell receptor linked to alcohol withdrawal-associated headaches

Researchers investigate the role of the mast-cell-specific receptor Mas-related G-protein-coupled receptor B2 (MrgprB2) in alcohol-withdrawal-induced headaches.

2 Nov 2023

How alcohol intake contributes to increased pain and hypersensitivity

Chronic alcohol consumption may make people more sensitive to pain through two different molecular mechanisms - one driven by alcohol intake and one by alcohol withdrawal.

21 Apr 2023

Does irritable bowel syndrome result from gravity?

New research discussed the hypothesis that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may result from gravity.

5 Dec 2022

Pitt neuroscientists uncover additional complexities behind sensation of pain from light touch

Researchers from the Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine announced today in the journal Neuron that they've uncovered additional complexities behind mechanical allodynia--the sensation of pain from innocuous stimuli, such as light touch.

11 Nov 2020

A highly conserved protein contributes to sensing mechanical pain, study shows

Researchers at McGill University have discovered that a protein found in the membrane of our sensory neurons are involved in our capacity to feel mechanical pain, laying the foundation for the development of powerful new analgesic drugs.

24 Feb 2020

Scientists use toxin from rattlesnake venom for chronic pain

Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) is the largest venomous snake in North America, reaching 8 feet and weighing up to 10 pounds. In the past, medical experts believe that the toxin in rattlesnake venom, crotoxin, is a promising compound for the treatment of chronic pain.

18 Feb 2020

Light touch on the skin loses its pleasure in people with migraine

A recent study published in the journal Cephalalgia, the official journal of the International Headache Society, builds on the sensorial characteristics of migraine patients.

14 Feb 2020