Pain Experience in Dementia Subtypes: A Systematic Review.

Curr Alzheimer Res

Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Published: January 2018

Recently, the number of studies focusing on pain in dementia has increased considerably. Still, little attention has been paid to the influence of the neuropathology of different dementia subtypes on pain experience. In 2003, a review identified several studies that indicated a relation between dementia subtype and pain experience. Now, ten years later, an update is warranted. We conducted a systematic review to identify studies that assessed pain experience and dementia subtypes by searching PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria were: (1) major dementia subtype diagnosis i.e. Alzheimer's dementia (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB); (2) age ≥60 years; and (3) pain experience. We identified twelve studies that addressed AD, three studies VaD, one study FTD, and no studies DLB. In AD, studies on clinical pain indicate a reduced pain experience compared to controls, whereas experimental studies show inconsistent findings. In VaD, clinical studies found that primary caregivers rated pain equal to cognitively intact controls, although more painful locations were reported. During self-report, elderly with VaD reported higher pain levels than cognitively intact controls. In FTD, a significantly lower pain sensitivity to experimental pain was found. Considering the limited number of studies, these findings should be considered with caution. Existing literature provides some evidence that dementia subtype affects pain experience. Further research is needed to clarify the relation between dementia subtype and pain experience as it could serve as basis for improving the assessment and management of pain in people with dementia.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205013666160602234109DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

pain experience
32
dementia subtype
16
pain
15
dementia
13
dementia subtypes
12
subtype pain
12
studies
10
experience dementia
8
systematic review
8
number studies
8

Similar Publications

Early esophageal cancer with mucosal bridging in the resting room: A case report.

World J Gastrointest Endosc

January 2025

Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, China.

Background: Patients diagnosed with esophageal mucosal bridges often experience symptoms such as chest pain and dysphagia, which pose considerable challenges for endoscopic surgical interventions.

Case Summary: We present a case involving early-stage esophageal cancer discovered in a resting room, notable for the rare manifestation of esophageal mucosal bridging. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary discussion and the development of a treatment strategy, we proceeded with endoscopic submucosal dissection for the patient.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a complex disorder, recently attracting much research into aetiology and treatment. However, there is limited research on the patient's lived experience. This paper addresses this gap to ask: 'What is the subjective life experience of adult patients living with FND?'

Methods: From 1980 to 2020, Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, CINAHL and Embase were searched for English language qualitative adult research.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Concept of Pain in Children Attending Primary School: Implications for School-Based Pain Education.

Pain Res Manag

January 2025

Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Stellenbosch University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

A child's concept of pain comprises their understanding of what pain is, the purpose of pain, and biological processes underpinning pain. The concept of pain can influence pain experiences, pain beliefs, and pain-related behaviour. This study aimed to assess the concept of pain among children attending primary schools in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Childhood stressors can increase adult stress perception and may accumulate over the lifespan to impact symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Growing evidence links childhood stressors (e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Non-pharmaceutical method is one of the conventional methods of reducing labor pain. Acupressure is suggested as an effective method for reducing labor pain with favorable effects on the outcome of childbirth. Different acupressure methods are suggested for this purpose; the most effective one has to be investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!