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Pain and Therapy
Published in: Pain and Therapy 1/2019

Open Access 01-06-2019 | Alzheimer's Disease | Review

Chronic Pain in the Elderly with Cognitive Decline: A Narrative Review

Authors: Luca Cravello, Simona Di Santo, Giustino Varrassi, Dario Benincasa, Paolo Marchettini, Marina de Tommaso, Jacob Shofany, Francesca Assogna, Daniele Perotta, Katie Palmer, Antonella Paladini, Fulvia di Iulio, Carlo Caltagirone

Published in: Pain and Therapy | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

The presence of pain in elderly persons with cognitive decline is often neglected, under-reported, underestimated, misdiagnosed and not adequately treated, with consequences that have a strong impact on health, independence in activities of daily living and quality of life. There is no empirical evidence that people with dementia experience less pain; therefore, in patients with severe cognitive impairment the progression of cognitive decline dramatically affects the ability to verbalize the presence of pain. Self-assessment scales are considered the “gold standard” for pain assessment, but the presence of cognitive impairment is likely to reduce the reliability of these measures. Treatment of pain in elderly with cognitive decline or dementia is based on non-pharmacological and pharmacological strategies. Pharmacological treatment should consider physiological changes, high comorbidity and drug interactions that occur frequently in the elderly. This narrative review aims to describe current knowledge, methods of detection and treatment approaches for chronic pain in elderly persons with cognitive deficits.
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Metadata
Title
Chronic Pain in the Elderly with Cognitive Decline: A Narrative Review
Authors
Luca Cravello
Simona Di Santo
Giustino Varrassi
Dario Benincasa
Paolo Marchettini
Marina de Tommaso
Jacob Shofany
Francesca Assogna
Daniele Perotta
Katie Palmer
Antonella Paladini
Fulvia di Iulio
Carlo Caltagirone
Publication date
01-06-2019
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Published in
Pain and Therapy / Issue 1/2019
Print ISSN: 2193-8237
Electronic ISSN: 2193-651X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40122-019-0111-7

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