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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
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Author Spotlight: Methodologies and Advancements of Chronic Pain Management Research
Published on: January 5, 2024
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The Impact of Chronic Pain on Cognitive Function
Milan Patel1, Jamal Hasoon2, Rodrigo Diez Tafur3
1Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
Brain Sciences
|June 26, 2025
Summary
Chronic pain significantly impacts cognitive function, leading to measurable deficits and brain alterations. Early recognition and multidisciplinary strategies are crucial for managing pain and cognitive health.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Chronic pain is a widespread public health issue in the US.
- It is increasingly linked to cognitive dysfunction, particularly in older adults.
- This dysfunction may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the relationship between chronic pain and cognitive function.
- To emphasize underlying neurobiological mechanisms, structural brain changes, and comorbidities.
- To explore implications for neurodegenerative diseases.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of peer-reviewed studies on pain-cognition mechanisms.
- Inclusion of large-scale cohort studies and neuroimaging analyses (fMRI).
- Focus on prefrontal cortex activity, default mode network, and gray matter atrophy.
Main Results:
- Chronic pain is associated with cognitive deficits via multiple pathways.
- Measurable cognitive impairments and structural/functional brain alterations are observed.
- Key brain regions affected include the prefrontal cortex and default mode network.
Conclusions:
- Understanding pain-cognition mechanisms is vital for early detection.
- Multidisciplinary management, including neuromodulation and cognitive rehabilitation, is recommended.
- Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and integrated interventions.
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s diseaseParkinson’s diseasecentral sensitizationchronic paincognitive declinecognitive dysfunctiondepressiongray matter atrophymicroglial activationneurodegenerationneuroinflammationpain interferenceMore Related Videos
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