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Bell TR, Franz CE, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Puckett OK, Dorros SM, Panizzon MS, Pearce RC, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Beck A, Elman JA, Kremen WS. Probable chronic pain, brain structure, and Alzheimer's plasma biomarkers in older men. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:104463. [PMID: 38199594 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Chronic pain leads to tau accumulation and hippocampal atrophy in mice. In this study, we provide one of the first assessments in humans, examining the associations of probable chronic pain with hippocampal volume, integrity of the locus coeruleus (LC)-an upstream site of tau deposition-and Alzheimer's Disease-related plasma biomarkers. Participants were mostly cognitively unimpaired men. Probable chronic pain was defined as moderate-to-severe pain in 2+ study waves at average ages 56, 62, and 68. At age 68, 424 participants underwent structural magnestic resonance imaging (MRI) of hippocampal volume and LC-sensitive MRI providing an index of LC integrity (LC contrast-to-noise ratio). Analyses adjusted for confounders including major health conditions, depressive symptoms, and opioid use. Models showed that men with probable chronic pain had smaller hippocampal volume and lower rostral-middle-but not caudal-LC contrast-to-noise ratio compared to men without probable chronic pain. Men with probable chronic pain also had higher levels of plasma total tau, beta-amyloid-42, and beta-amyloid-40 compared to men without probable chronic pain. These findings suggest that probable chronic pain is associated with tau accumulation and reduced structural brain integrity in regions affected early in the development of Alzheimer's Disease. PERSPECTIVE: Probable chronic pain was associated with plasma biomarkers and brain regions that are affected early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reducing pain in midlife and elucidating biological mechanisms may help to reduce the risk of AD in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R Bell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephen M Dorros
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Rahul C Pearce
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Asad Beck
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, California; Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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