Gerontology & geriatric medicine
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Gerontol Geriatr Med · Jan 2018
Effect of Pain Severity on Executive Function Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the reciprocal relationship between pain severity and executive function in community-dwelling older adults. Method: In this prospective cohort study, 64 Japanese community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older (mean age 72.8 years; women, 68.8%) were analyzed. Pain severity was assessed by self-reported questionnaire while executive function was assessed by the Trail Making Test at baseline and at 1-year follow-up assessment. ⋯ On the contrary, the effect of high baseline pain severity on the decline in set shifting (Trail Making Test Part B) was significant even after adjustment with age, sex, years of education, depressive symptoms, and analgesic drug use. Conclusion: Higher baseline pain severity was associated with greater executive function decline in community-dwelling older adults. Executive function decline due to severe pain should be considered as well as pain itself.