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On the moderating role of age in the relationship between pain and cognition
Author(s) -
Oosterman J.M.,
Gibson S.J.,
Pulles W.L.J.A.,
Veldhuijzen D.S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00235.x
Subject(s) - cognition , moderation , association (psychology) , chronic pain , psychology , neuropsychology , pain catastrophizing , executive functions , clinical psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , psychotherapist
Abstract Background A relationship between pain perception and cognitive function is evident. However, the directionality of this association is unclear and may be influenced by age. That is, inverse associations between pain and cognition have been reported in young and middle‐aged chronic pain patients, whereas higher clinical pain ratings have been associated with better cognitive performance in older chronic pain patients. Therefore, this study examined the possible moderating role of age in the pain‐cognition relationship. Method Twenty‐two younger and 24 older chronic pain participants completed neuropsychological tests of psychomotor speed, memory and executive function. They also completed the M c G ill P ain Q uestionnaire to evaluate clinical pain. Results Interaction analyses revealed that age indeed moderates the relationship between clinical pain ratings and cognitive functions. In the younger age group, pain ratings were inversely related to memory and executive function. In the older age group, a positive relationship was found between pain ratings and executive function, whereas the inverse association of clinical pain with memory was no longer present. Conclusions This study was the first to confirm the hypothesis that age is an important moderator of the relationship between pain and cognition. An important finding is that in older adults, most inverse effects of pain on cognition are either no longer present or may even be reversed. The positive relationship between pain and executive function may indicate age‐related reduced integrity of a shared underlying neural substrate.