Remarkably, she has never had to use pain medication for her entire life. Apparently this woman is able to live without anxiety, fear, or physical discomfort. Scientists have now initiated investigations into the intricacies of this extraordinary gene, offering promising prospects for the development of more effective painkillers.
From Study Finds:
“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 can start to understand the biology involved and that opens up possibilities for drug discovery that could one day have far-reaching positive impacts for patients.”
Wow, can you imagine living a life completely free from pain? This woman is truly fortunate.Living in Whitebridge, near Inverness, with her husband Jim, the 74-year-old only discovered her uniqueness a decade ago. Following surgeries on her hip and hand, her doctors noted her absence of pain, an unusual response to such procedures. Despite being diagnosed with severe joint degeneration in her hip, Cameron experienced no pain.
“I was aware that I was a happy-go-lucky person, but I didn’t realize I was different. I thought it was just me,” shares Cameron. “I didn’t know anything strange was going on until I was 65.”
Her pain insensitivity was diagnosed by Dr. Devjit Srivastava, an NHS consultant in anesthesia and pain medicine. In 2013, a team from University College London identified the gene variant, named “FAAH-OUT.” This variant deactivates the normal version and impacts other molecular pathways related to wound healing and mood.
Let us remain hopeful that scientists can unlock the secrets of her remarkable genes and potentially share their benefits with the wider population.
