In an international effort, researchers at Western University, the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) uncovered how specific patterns in brain activity can predict an individual’s sensitivity to pain, expanding opportunities for improved pain management strategies.
The new study was published on Jan. 27 in JAMA Neurology. It found that the combination of two biomarkers in the brain—corticomotor excitability (CME), excitability in the region of the brain that controls movement, and peak alpha frequency (PAF), a neural marker associated with cognitive performance—can accurately and reliably distinguish high- and low-pain-sensitive individuals during prolonged pain.
“The burden of chronic pain is massive. Having objective biomarkers would greatly assist with decision-making in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of chronic pain,” said senior author and Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor David Seminowicz, who started this study while he was a professor at UMSOD.
For people who suffer from prolonged or chronic pain, this means they could be more effectively treated according to their level of pain sensitivity.
According to recent data from the Global Burden of Disease study, approximately 1.7 billion people around the world live with musculoskeletal conditions, typically characterized by persistent pain, including pain in muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Living with prolonged pain can be debilitating and affect a person’s ability to work or socialize. Currently, there is a lack of effective treatments for chronic pain and a gap in understanding the transition from acute to chronic pain.
“For the first time, we have something that looks like it could predict pain outcomes for people,” said Siobhan Schabrun, co-author and professor at Western’s School of Physical Therapy.
The researchers looked specifically at jaw pain, typically attributed to problems with the joint or muscles in the jaw, also known as temporomandibular disorders.
The study involved 150 participants in Australia, aged 18 to 44. PAF, the brain biomarker associated with cognitive performance, was measured using electroencephalography (EEG) recording, which records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes. CME, the biomarker related to excitability, was measured through transcranial magnetic stimulation, where nerve cells in the brain are stimulated using magnetic fields.
This research was a collaborative effort between Nahian Chowdhury, research fellow at NeuRA, who led the data collection; a statistical team led by University of Maryland School of Medicine postdoctoral fellow Chuan Bi and Professor Shuo Chen; and the principal investigator of the UMSOD site, Assistant Professor Joyce Teixeira Da Silva.
“More people live with chronic pain than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined,” Da Silva said. “This study is a breakthrough in developing an accurate pain biomarker that could not only predict individuals’ pain but also help prevent who will develop such a debilitating condition—chronic pain.”
Slow PAF and Low CME Indicate Higher Pain Sensitivity
“Our results suggest individuals who have slow PAF prior to a prolonged pain episode and reduced CME shortly after the onset of a prolonged pain episode are more likely to experience higher pain days or weeks later,” explained Seminowicz.
Additional findings from complementary studies indicate that individuals with low levels of CME during the acute stages of low back pain were more likely to develop chronic pain after six months.
The new research also shows potential for measuring PAF and CME in pre-operative and post-injury settings to identify whether a patient has high or low pain sensitivity.
Based on previous literature that found higher acute pain can predict the development of chronic pain, the researchers suggest these biomarkers, PAF and CME, could potentially be used to gauge a person’s likelihood of developing chronic pain after experiencing acute pain.
‘A Major Leap Forward’
“This study represents a major leap forward in the field of pain science. A biomarker that can predict pain sensitivity with 88 percent accuracy has the potential to transform the treatment and prevention of pain in the future,” said Schabrun, who is also the William and Lynne Gray Endowed Research Chair in Mobility and Activity at St. Joseph’s Health Care London.
Backed by the high rates of accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability of their study, the researchers are now working to validate the biomarker in clinical populations to explore clinical translation, including predicting the transition from acute to chronic clinical pain.
“This would allow us to target treatments toward people with acute pain who are likely to transition to chronic pain,” said Schabrun. “If these brain biomarkers can predict that occurrence in the future, we hope to be able to interfere with the transition to chronic pain to provide better patient outcomes.”
About Western University
Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with lifelong opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world applications. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence, and lead in the international community. Learn more at https://www.uwo.ca/index.html.
About the University of Maryland School of Dentistry
The University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD), the world’s first dental college, offers exceptional educational programs in oral health and serves as Maryland’s predominant provider of comprehensive and emergency oral health services for more than 20,000 patients annually. It is one of six professional schools and an interdisciplinary Graduate School on the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s 71-acre campus, and is part of a thriving academic health center that combines groundbreaking biomedical research and exceptional patient care. UMSOD’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical Center’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, is renowned nationally and internationally as a leader in trauma, craniofacial deformity, oral cancer, and facial reconstruction. Learn more at dental.umaryland.edu.
About Neuroscience Research Australia
Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) is an independent, not-for-profit research institute based in Sydney, aiming to prevent, treat, and cure brain and nervous system diseases, disorders, and injuries through medical research. Learn more at www.neura.edu.au.
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