03/20/2023
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป, ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐๐ฑ๐.
Living with chronic pain for over three months, such as arthritis, cancer, or back pain, increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, according to a recent study. The study examined data from more than 19,000 people who underwent brain scans as part of the UK Biobank, a long-term study of over 500,000 UK participants aged 40 to 69.
Individuals with multiple sites of body pain performed worse on seven of 11 cognitive tasks compared to those with no pain. On the other hand, those with only one pain site performed worse on only one cognitive task, which was their ability to remember to perform a task in the future.
While the study controlled for a variety of factors such as age, alcohol use, body mass, ethnicity, genetics, history of cancer, diabetes, vascular or heart problems, medications, psychiatric symptoms, and smoking status, it did not account for levels of exercise. Isaacson, a medical professional, suggested that exercise is the most powerful tool in the fight against cognitive decline and dementia. People who suffer from multisite chronic pain may find it challenging to adhere to regular physical activity, which could be a possible reason for increased dementia risk.
According to the 2016 Global Burden of Disease Study, low back pain is a leading cause of years lived with disability, and neck pain is the fourth leading cause. Other leading causes of chronic pain include arthritis, nerve damage, pain from cancer, and injuries. Researchers estimate that more than 30% of people worldwide experience chronic pain. Pain is the most common reason people seek health care and the leading cause of disability globally, according to articles published in The Lancet in 2021.
Pain management programs typically involve multiple specialists who work together to find the best relief for symptoms while providing support for the emotional and mental burden of pain. Medical treatments may include over-the-counter and prescription medications to stop the pain cycle and ease inflammation, injections of steroids, and antidepressants that increase the amount of serotonin, which controls part of the pain pathway in the brain. Applying brief bursts of electricity to the muscles and nerve endings is another treatment option.
Therapies such as massage, whirlpool immersion, exercises, hot and cold treatments, and acupuncture may be suggested by occupational and physical therapists. Psychologists who specialize in rehabilitation may recommend cognitive and relaxation techniques such as meditation, tai chi, and yoga to distract the mind from fixating on pain. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a key psychological treatment for pain, and an anti-inflammatory diet may also be suggested, such as reducing trans fats, sugars, and processed foods. Weight loss may also be helpful, especially for back and knee pain, according to Johns Hopkins.
In summary, chronic pain lasting for over three months increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The study analyzed data from over 19,000 individuals and found that people with multiple sites of body pain performed worse on cognitive tasks than those with no pain. While pain management programs may involve multiple specialists and treatments, exercise is considered the most powerful tool in the fight against cognitive decline and dementia.