The Impacts of Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain on Cognitive Functions of Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Observational
SUMMARY

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a common condition among older adults and has been associated with an increased risk of executive function impairment. Research shows that older adults experiencing chronic pain are more likely to show worse cognitive performance compared to healthy individuals. While there is a bidirectional relationship between pain and executive functions, cognitive performance especially for some executive functions (e.g. inhibition, switching, working memory) is crucial for managing pain in older adults. Furthermore, executive dysfunctions are associated with decline in functional status among the population, particularly in performing instrumental activities in daily living. Therefore, maintaining executive function emerges as a pivotal consideration for older adults with CNSLBP. Studies provide preliminary evidence that connects brain changes with chronic pain and cognitive functions. For instance, multisite chronic pain may increase the risk of cognitive decline through structural changes like hippocampal atrophy. Besides, functional brain changes in chronic pain may reduce deactivation several key default mode network regions, predisposing individuals to cognitive impairments. Despite the aforementioned brain changes, no direct evidence supports the hypothesis that structural and functional brain changes caused by CNSLBP in older adults may be associated with cognitive decline. It remains unclear that whether structural changes (e.g. reduced 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) cause by CNSLBP are associated with cognitive decline. With neuroimaging techniques, brain mechanisms connecting CNSLBP and executive function deficits can be explained. To deepen 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. A longitudinal approach is established to quantify the relationship between CNSLBP-related brain changes and executive functions in older adults, providing 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
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences
RECRUITING
Hong Kong
Contact Information
Primary
Frank F Huang, MD
fan2023.huang@connect.polyu.hk
852-5303-7752
Backup
Chun Liang HSU, PhD
chun-liang.hsu@polyu.edu.hk
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-05-06
Estimated Completion Date: 2026-08-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 60
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 may or may not accompanied by 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