Clinics in Geriatric Medicine · Sep 16, 2025
Pain in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Review on the Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Subjective Cognitive Decline
By Wu J, Horgas AL, Booker SS
Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are at an increased risk for chronic pain. Although robust literature demonstrates the association between chronic pain and advanced cognitive impairment, fewer studies have investigated SCD within the cognitive trajectory. This review examines the published literature on the relationship between chronic pain and SCD within the broader context of the cognitive function spectrum and also explores the potential mechanisms through which chronic pain affects SCD, with a particular focus on the psychological pathway underlying this association. Also discussed are evidence-based approaches for assessing and managing chronic pain in individuals across the cognitive trajectory.