Low Tolerance for Pain May Be in the Genes

Researchers may have identified key genes linked to why some people have a higher tolerance for pain than others, according to a recent study. Researchers evaluated 2,721 people diagnosed with and taking prescription opioid pain medications for chronic pain for certain genes. The genes involved were COMT, DRD2, DRD1 and OPRK1. Nine percent of the participants had low pain perception, 46 percent had moderate pain perception and 45 percent had high pain perception. The researchers found that the DRD1 gene variant was 33 percent more prevalent in the low pain group than in the high pain group. Among people with a moderate pain perception, the COMT and OPRK variants were 25 percent and 19 percent more often found than in those with a high pain perception. The DRD2 variant was 25 percent more common among those with a high pain perception, compared to people with moderate pain. “Chronic pain can affect every other part of life,” said study author Tobore Onojjighofia, MD, MPH. “Finding genes that may be play a role in pain perception could provide a target for developing new therapies and help physicians better understand their patients’ perceptions of pain.” To learn more about the study, click here.