Chronic pain, such as
arthritis, cancer or back pain, lasting for over three months, raises the risk
of cognitive decline and dementia, a new study found. Living with chronic
pain can lead to more rapid cognitive decline and later dementia.
The hippocampus, a brain
structure highly associated with learning and memory, aged by about a year in a
60-year-old person who had one site of chronic pain compared with people with
no pain.
When pain was felt in
two places in the body, the hippocampus shrank even more — the equivalent of
just over two years of aging.
The risk rose as the
number of pain sites in the body increased. Hippocampal volume
was nearly four times smaller in people with pain in five or more body sites
compared with those with only two — the equivalent of up to eight years of
aging.
People with higher
levels of pain were also more likely to have reduced gray matter in other brain
areas that impact cognition, such as the prefrontal cortex and frontal lobe —
the same areas attacked by Alzhemier’s disease. In fact, over 45% of
Alzheimer’s patients live with chronic pain, according to a 2016 study.
Equally important is a
link between chronic pain and inflammation. A 2019 review of studies found pain
triggers immune cells called microglia to create neuroinflammation that may
lead to changes in brain connectivity and function.
In addition, chronic
pain often makes getting a good night’s sleep difficult. Sleeping less in turn raises
the risk of cognitive decline. A 2021
study found sleeping less than six hours a night in midlife raises the risk of
dementia by 30%.
“Exercise is the #1 the most
powerful tool in the fight against cognitive decline,” Alzheimer’s disease
researcher Dr. Richard Isaacson, a preventive neurologist at the Institute for
Neurodegenerative Diseases of Florida, said. People who walked with
"purpose" -- at a pace over 40 steps a minute -- were able to cut
their risk of dementia by 57% with just 6,315 steps a day.
“Asking people about any
chronic pain conditions, and advocating for their care by a pain specialist,
may be a modifiable risk factor against cognitive decline that we can
proactively address,” Dr. Isaacson said.
The treating programs on chronic pain typically involve a number of specialists to find the
best relief for symptoms while providing support for the emotional and mental
burden of pain.
Psychologists who
specialize in rehabilitation may recommend cognitive and relaxation techniques
such as meditation, tai chi and yoga that can take the mind off fixating on
pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a key psychological treatment for pain.
Going on an
anti-inflammatory diet may be suggested, such as cutting back on trans fats,
sugars and other processed foods.
Weight loss may be helpful as well, especially for back and knee pain, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
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