Chronic Pain
Healthy habits may make the brain appear up to eight years younger, study finds
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Researchers at the University of Florida report that lifestyle factors such as optimism, good-quality sleep and strong social support are linked to brains that appear as much as eight years younger than expected for a person’s age. The effect was observed even among adults living with chronic pain, underscoring how everyday behaviors may influence brain health over time.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have pinpointed a brain region called the caudal granular insular cortex, or CGIC, that acts as a switch turning acute pain into chronic pain. In animal studies, disabling this circuit prevented chronic pain from developing or reversed it once established. The findings, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, open paths to new treatments beyond opioids.
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A comprehensive review of clinical trials suggests that cannabis products high in THC may provide modest, short-term relief for chronic pain, especially neuropathic types, but with notable side effects. In contrast, CBD-dominant products offer no clear advantages. Researchers call for more long-term studies to assess safety and efficacy.