Scottish Pensioner’s Pain-Free Genetics Offer Clues to New Analgesics

Jo Cameron, a 71-year-old former pensioner from Inverness, first attracted medical attention when a hip-replacement operation at Raigmore Hospital revealed severe arthritis but an unusually low pain response. She reported burns, cuts and even the consumption of fiery Scotch bonnet chilies without discomfort, and her injuries healed with minimal scarring; she also scored zero on anxiety and depression assessments and never panics in dangerous situations. Genetic testing by pain specialists at University College London and the University of Oxford identified a known variant in the FAAH (Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase) gene and a second, previously uncharacterized mutation dubbed “Faah-Out” that appears to silence FAAH activity, thereby amplifying pain-insensitivity and accelerating tissue repair.

The Independent

The case was reported in the *British Journal of Anaesthesia* by a team led by Dr Devjit Srivastava, a pain consultant at Raigmore Hospital. Collaborators included geneticists from University College London and the University of Oxford, who together provided the first peer-reviewed description of the “Faah-Out” mutation in a human subject.

The Independent

Approximately half of postoperative patients continue to experience moderate to severe pain despite modern analgesics, and an estimated 330 million surgeries are performed worldwide each year. The dual mutation suggests a pathway for drugs that could both reduce postoperative pain and accelerate wound healing, potentially offering analgesia without the side-effects associated with opioids or cannabinoids.

The Independent

Dr Srivastava said the findings could lead to a new class of pain-relieving agents for the hundreds of millions of surgical patients worldwide. Cameron said she would be “elated” if research on her genetics helped others suffering from pain.

The Independent

The “Faah-Out” mutation has not been reported previously, and its location in DNA once dismissed as “junk” highlights gaps in current genomic knowledge. Additional studies are needed to assess how common the variant is in the wider population and to confirm its functional role in pain modulation.

The Independent

• “She reported numerous burns and cuts without pain, often smelling her burning flesh before noticing any injury, and these wounds healed quickly with little or no residual scar.” — Study authors

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• “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,” — Jo Cameron

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• “The implications for these findings are immense,” — Dr Devjit Srivastava

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• “The findings point towards a novel pain killer discovery that could potentially offer post-surgical pain relief and also accelerate wound healing,” — Dr Devjit Srivastava

The Independent

• “We hope this could help the 330 million patients who undergo surgery globally every year.” — Dr Devjit Srivastava

The Independent