A 71 year old woman by the name of Jo Cameron has an old condition with a new cause. Throughout her entire life, she’s never experienced anxiety or pain.
Even during childbirth, all she reportedly felt was a tickling sensation. It was over 40 years later when she learned this was unusual.
Now, science may have an answer. The nigh pain-free life Jo lives may be “due to a mutation in a previously unidentified gene” (New York Times). This mutation is also why Jo feels little anxiety and heals so quickly.
Jo’s case is something scientists have never heard of, so this matter is raising incredible excitement. A study of Jo’s case could lead to important advancements in painkillers, stress medication, and expedited healing medication.
Stories like Jo remind engineers to look for inspiration everywhere. A normal-looking 71 year old woman may hold the key to better medications, and in the future, a different one may hold the secret to immortality. We may never know.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/health/woman-pain-anxiety.html
