Pain Severity and Interference in Different Parkinson's Disease Cognitive Phenotypes

Chronic pain is prevalent in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) with many individuals also experiencing cognitive deficits negatively impacting everyday life.

In this study, we examine differences in pain severity and interference between 113 nondemented individuals with idiopathic PD who were statistically classified as having low executive function (n=24), low memory function (n=35), no cognitive deficits (n=54). The individuals with PD were also compared to matched non-PD controls (n=64).

PD participants with low executive function reported significantly higher pain interference (p<0.05), despite reporting similar pain severity levels compared to other phenotypes. These differences remained statistically significant, even after accounting for important confounders such as anxiety and depression (p<0.05).

Pain interference in those with lower executive function may represent a target for psychosocial interventions for individuals with pain and PD.