Worsening Depression May Predict Future Pain in Older Adults: UCL Study Finds
New Delhi: Middle-aged and older adults who experience frequent pain are more likely to have had worsening symptoms of depression and loneliness up to eight years before the pain began, according to a new study published in eClinicalMedicine by researchers at University College London. The findings suggest that early mental health support may help prevent or reduce physical pain later in life.
The study analysed 21 years of data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which surveys a nationally representative group of adults over age 50 every two years. Researchers compared 3,668 adults who frequently experienced moderate to severe pain with an equal number of people who did not report significant pain.
They found that in the pain group, symptoms of depression worsened sharply in the years leading up to the onset of pain, peaked when pain began, and remained high afterwards. In contrast, the non-pain group had fewer and more stable depressive symptoms. A similar pattern was observed for loneliness, which increased before and after the onset of pain in the pain group but remained low in the non-pain group.
Most participants with pain reported back, knee, hip, or foot issues. While the exact causes of pain were not identified, researchers emphasised that mental health factors such as depression and loneliness might increase inflammation and alter how the body perceives pain.
The study also found that the link between depression and pain was stronger among people with lower education and wealth, underscoring the need to support vulnerable populations with better access to mental health and community care.
Lead author Dr Mikaela Bloomberg (UCL Epidemiology & Public Health) said, “Our study shows that depressive symptoms and loneliness worsen long before pain begins. This is important as it suggests the potential for early mental health and social support to reduce or delay later pain.”
“Our findings highlight the importance of approaching pain not just from a biological perspective. Mental health interventions may be important too.”
Reference: Trajectories of loneliness, social isolation, and depressive symptoms before and after onset of pain in middle-aged and older adults, Bloomberg, Mikaela et al. eClinicalMedicine, Volume 0, Issue 0, 103209
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