Grant: Project Grant

Chronic pain affects millions of people and can impact much more than physical comfort. Many people with long-term pain also experience problems with memory, attention, and other thinking skills. The reasons for this are not fully understood. Healthy brain function depends on a steady and well-regulated blood supply. This blood supply to active cells in the brain is disrupted in diseases like Alzheimer's, contributing to cognitive decline. However, very little is known about how pain affects blood flow in the brain. Our research will study how blood flow regulation changes in chronic pain, using advanced imaging techniques to look at brain activity and blood flow in real time, in a mouse model. We will look at which brain cells are involved in these changes, and test whether improving blood flow can help restore normal brain activity. Understanding this link between chronic pain and brain blood flow could lead to new ways to protect brain health in people living with pain.