No pain, time gained

The loss of pain-transducing receptors called TRPV1 paves the way to a long life, according to a study published May 22 in Cell. Mice lacking TRPV1 live longer and have a more youthful metabolism than age-matched control mice, and this longevity relied on decreasing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). The results suggest that TRPV1 blockers in development for pain, or CGRP blockers now being tested to treat migraine headaches, could have health-promoting side effects.

Read this story at Pain Research Forum.