Is this woman made of iron?
Jo Cameron is a 75-year-old Scottish woman who feels virtually no pain.
She never panics and doesn't feel anxiety - even in high-risk or dangerous situations. It's all because of her genes.
'I’m always cutting myself, burning myself, hurting myself' - For years Jo Cameron 'had no idea that there was anything unusual' about how little pain she felt. It was only at 66, when she had surgery, that doctors realised just how unusual she ishttps://t.co/XGlnt9bZ5y pic.twitter.com/ABIiqGVv1W
— ITV News (@itvnews) March 28, 2019
When she was 66, Jo had a very painful hand surgery. Afterwards, Jo reported that she was in no post-surgery pain but when this was further investigated, it revealed a
lifelong history of painless injuries, such as frequent cuts and burns. All of these healed quickly, and she could often smell her burning flesh before noticing any injury.
YIKES.
Discovery
As reported on RTE, scientists conducted genetic analysis and found two notable mutations.
One was a "micro-deletion", or a tiny bit missing, in a pseudo-gene which did not have the full functionality of regular genes.
The researchers dubbed it FAAH-OUT and found that the woman had a mutation in the neighbouring gene that controls the FAAH enzyme.
The FAAH gene is well-known to pain researchers. It's involved in endocannabinoid signalling, which is central to pain sensation, mood and memory.
In plain English, Jo's mutated gene or genes means that she feels little to no pain, her injuries heal very quickly and her anxiety or stress levels are almost zero.
Speaking about the recent report Jo Cameron said:
"I had no idea until a few years ago that there was anything that unusual about how little pain I feel - I just thought it was normal. Learning about it now fascinates me as much as it does anyone else."
"I would be elated if any research into my own genetics could help other people who are suffering."
Jo Cameron (Left) with Family.James Cox who was a researcher on the study told The Guardian:
“There’s an awful lot we can learn from her. Once we understand how the new gene works, we can think about gene therapies that mimic the effects we see in her. There are millions of people living in pain and we definitely need new analgesics. Patients like this can give us real insights into the pain system.”
The full study was published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia can be read here.
