Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study
Authors' conclusion
CWP is significantly associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, mediated by alterations in brain structure and systemic inflammation.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants aged 37 to 73 yr enrolled 2006 to 201013 yr of follow-up
- Participants
- 188,594 participants
- Exposure
- Chronic widespread pain (CWP) vs no CWP
- Outcome
- Incident MCI and dementia
Methodological detailslongitudinal, UK Biobank
- Longitudinal
- UK Biobank
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CWP vs No CWPHazard ratio (95% CI)
Mild cognitive impairment
2.55(1.31–4.97)
Dementia
1.53(1.13–2.0)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | β | P value |
|---|---|---|
| Causal association between CWP and dementiaNo evidence of a causal association | 1.50 | PAdjusted = 0.076 |
Mediation of CWP–cognitive performance relationship
- Brain structural volumes (thalamus, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, precentral and postcentral gyrus) and systemic inflammatory markers (lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophils, leukocytes) may mediate the relationship
- Imprecision in timing of mediator assessment should lead to cautious interpretation
Original publication
Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study. Anesthesiology. Published 25 August 2025. doi:10.
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