This study examines the effect of normal aging on temporal summation (TS) of pain and the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII). Two groups of healthy volunteers, young and elderly, received transcutaneous electrical stimulation applied to the right sural nerve to assess pain and the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII-reflex). ⋯ This study shows that robust TS of pain and RIII-reflex is observable in individuals aged between 18 and 75 years and indicates that these effects are comparable between young and older individuals. These results contrast with some previous findings and imply that at least some pain regulatory processes, including TS, may not be affected by normal aging, although this may vary depending on the method.
Rafik Marouf, Mathieu Piché, and Pierre Rainville.
aDepartment of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada bCentre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (CRIUGM), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada cC... more entre de recherche en neuropsychologie et cognition (CERNEC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada dDepartment of Chiropractic, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada eDepartment of Stomatology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada fGroupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central (GRSNC), Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. less
Pain. 2015 Oct 1; 156 (10): 1945-53.
AbstractThis study examines the effect of normal aging on temporal summation (TS) of pain and the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII). Two groups of healthy volunteers, young and elderly, received transcutaneous electrical stimulation applied to the right sural nerve to assess pain and the nociceptive flexion reflex (RIII-reflex). Stimulus intensity was adjusted individually to 120% of RIII-reflex threshold, and shocks were delivered as a single stimulus or as a series of 5 stimuli to assess TS at 5 different frequencies (0.17, 0.33, 0.66, 1, and 2 Hz). This study shows that robust TS of pain and RIII-reflex is observable in individuals aged between 18 and 75 years and indicates that these effects are comparable between young and older individuals. These results contrast with some previous findings and imply that at least some pain regulatory processes, including TS, may not be affected by normal aging, although this may vary depending on the method.