The Impacts of Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain on Cognitive Functions of Older Adults: a Cross-sectional Study

Status: Recruiting
Location: See all (3) locations...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a prevalent condition among older adult and has been associated with an increased risk of executive function impairment. Studies have shown that older adults with chronic pain are more likely to show poor cognitive performance than healthy controls. Cognitive performance is particularly important when managing pain in older adults, especially for some executive functions (e.g., inhibition, switching, working memory) because pain and executive functions have their bidirectional relationship. Further, executive dysfunctions are associated with a decline in functional status among older adults, particularly the impairment of instrumental activities of daily living. Given the above, the preservation of executive functions emerges as a pivotal consideration among old adults with CNSLBP. Studies have provided preliminary evidence of the correlation between brain changes associated with chronic pain and cognitive functions. For example, multisite chronic pain may contribute to an increased risk of cognitive decline via structural change in hippocampal atrophy. For another example, functional brain changes in chronic pain reduced the deactivation of several key default mode network regions, thereby predisposing individuals to cognitive impairments. Despite the aforementioned brain changes, no research has provided direct evidence to support the hypothesis that structural and functional brain changes caused by CNSLBP in older adults may be associated with cognitive decline. Specifically, whether CNSLBP may lead to structural changes (e.g., smaller hippocampal, cerebellar gray matter, white matter volume in the right frontal region) and/or functional changes (e.g., deactivation of default mode network regions, heightened activation in the anterior cingulate cortex) associated with cognitive decline remains unclear. With the help of neuroimaging, the knowledge about the underlying brain mechanisms between CNSLBP (chronic non-specific low back pain) and executive functions can be explained. To gain a better understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying executive function decline in older adults with CNSLBP, this study will directly compare pain intensity, executive functions, brain structure, and functional changes of the brain between older adults with CNSLBP and age-matched healthy controls. The results of this study have the potential to quantify the association between CNSLBP-related brain changes and executive functions in older adults, and provide insights into the development of new treatment strategies to improve or prevent executive function decline in older adults with CNSLBP.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 60
Maximum Age: 85
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

• Older adults with and without chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) aged between 60 and 85 years

• Having normal cognitive function (Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment ≥ 26)13

• Right-handed

• Cantonese speaking

• Having at least 6 years of formal education and know how to read and write Chinese

• Agreeing to sign an informed consent form

• Being able to communicate via email or text message because several study measures will be collected electronically.

Locations
Other Locations
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Arnold YL Wong
RECRUITING
Hong Kong
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
RECRUITING
Hong Kong
University Research Facility in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience
RECRUITING
Hong Kong
Contact Information
Primary
Frank F Huang, MD
fan2023.huang@connect.polyu.hk
+85253037752
Time Frame
Start Date: 2024-04-20
Estimated Completion Date: 2025-11-01
Participants
Target number of participants: 80
Treatments
Chronic non-specific low back pain group
Participants with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) should have: (1) CNSLBP that has lasted for at least 3 months, typically occurs in the area between the 12th rib to the iliac crest with and without leg pain and without a known pathoanatomical cause; (2) an average pain intensity of ≥ 5 out of 10 on an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) in the last 7 days, where 0 means no painand 10 means worst pain imaginable; and (3) pain occurring more than 3 days per week.
Healthy group
Healthy controls should not have CNSLBP in the last 36 months.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov