Astrocyte metabolic dynamics drive pain persistence

Neuropathic pain, caused by damage or disease of the nervous system, is a common chronic condition with a major impact on quality of life. The transition from acute nociception to persistent pain involves complex mechanisms that remain incompletely understood, limiting the effectiveness of current therapies. A key limitation in preclinical studies is the reliance on end-point measurements, which obscures the temporal biology underlying pain chronification. A new study addresses this gap by mapping dynamic changes in a mouse model, revealing metabolic reprogramming in astrocytes as a driver of pain.