Pain and dementia both increase with aging. About 55 million people worldwide have some form of dementia and this number is expected to reach 78 million people in 2030. Factors such as the amount of pain, degree of depression, inflammation in the body, and genes influence the pain experience and may also have effects on brain structure and function. Pain processing is altered in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) (the most common cause of dementia) and people with AD generally receive less pain medication than people without AD, even when they have similar painful conditions. Brain imaging studies have shown that the pain system remains active or has increased activity in people with AD. This study will examine the possible link between pain measures, depression, inflammation, and genes on brain structure and function in AD. These findings will provide a better understanding of the causes for altered pain processing in people with AD and may lead to improved treatment.
