The Effects of Perceived Pain in the Past Month on Prefrontal Cortex Activation Patterns Assessed During Cognitive and Motor Performances in Older Adults

Objective. Pain is prevalent and functionally impactful in older adults. The prefrontal cortex is involved in pain perception, attentional control, and cortical control of locomotion. Although pain is a known moderator of attentional capacity, its moderating effect on cortical control of locomotion has not been assessed. This study aimed to examine the effects of subjective pain on changes in functional near-infrared spectroscopy-derived measurements of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO(2)), gait velocity, and cognitive accuracy from single- to dual-task walking conditions among older adults. Subjects. The sample consisted of 383 healthy older adults (55% female). Methods. Participants completed two single tasks (Single-Task-Walk [STW] and Cognitive Interference [Alpha]) and the Dual-Task-Walk (DTW), during which participants performed the two single tasks simultaneously. The Medical Outcomes Study Pain Severity Scale and Pain Effects Scale were used to assess pain severity and interference. ProtoKinetics Movement Analysis Software was used to assess gait velocity and rate of correct letter generation to assess cognitive accuracy. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess HbO(2) during active walking. Results. Linear mixed-effects models revealed that HbO(2) increased from single- to dual-task conditions. Perceived pain presence was associated with an attenuated increase in HbO(2) from Alpha to DTW. Among those with pain, worse pain severity was associated with an attenuated increase in HbO(2) from STW to DTW. Pain interference did not moderate the increase in HbO(2) from single to dual tasks. Pain did not have a moderating effect on behavioral outcomes. Conclusions. Task-related changes in the hemodynamic response in the prefrontal cortex during walking may be a sensitive marker of the effects of subjective pain on brain function in healthy older adults.

Automated summary

This study examined the effects of subjective pain on brain function in healthy older adults during cognitive and walking tasks. The results showed that pain influenced changes in oxygenated hemoglobin, but did not impact behavioral outcomes.