Determining the impact of age and sex on the psychophysical and neurophysiological response to thermal pain across the adult lifespan

Sebastian W Atalla; Ronald L Cowan; Alison R Anderson; Mary S Dietrich; Larkin Iversen; Laura Beth Kalvas; Karen O Moss; Kathy Wright; Todd B Monroe

doi:10.1111/jan.14514

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Determining the impact of age and sex on the psychophysical and neurophysiological response to thermal pain across the adult lifespan

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Determining the impact of age and sex on the psychophysical and neurophysiological response to thermal pain across the adult lifespan

Sebastian W Atalla, Ronald L Cowan, Alison R Anderson, Mary S Dietrich, Larkin Iversen, Laura Beth Kalvas, Karen O Moss, Kathy Wright and Todd B Monroe

Journal of advanced nursing, Vol.77(3), pp.1546-1555

03/2021

DOI: 10.1111/jan.14514

PMCID: 7898385

PMID: 33450111

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https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14514View

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Abstract

Determine sex- and age-associated psychophysical and neurophysiological differences in the processing of pain across the adult lifespan. Preliminary, exploratory, cross-sectional study. Using psychophysics (to measure intensity and unpleasantness) and functional magnetic resonance imaging blood oxygenation level dependent methods (to measure stimulus-evoked brain activation), we will examine sex- and age-associated differences in thermal pain processing and their underlying neurophysiology in a broad range of healthy adults (ages 30-89). We will acquire resting state functional connectivity data for secondary analyses exploring whether resting state connectivity predicts psychophysical and neurophysiological responses to thermal pain. To examine the effects of altered blood flow, we will acquire resting-state arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging data to quantify resting cerebral blood flow. We will interpret findings in the context of a proposed neural model of pain, ageing, and sex. Study funding was received in June of 2014. Ethical approval was obtained from the Vanderbilt University IRB prior to study initiation. Exploring the biological reasons for age- and sex-associated differences in pain processing will increase our understanding of pain in older adults. The paucity of neurobiological evidence to support best practice pain management in older adults places these individuals at risk for poor pain management. Poorly treated pain in older adults is a critical public health problem associated with a poor quality of life and increased healthcare costs. Understanding how age and sex have an impact on central processing of pain across the lifespan is a critical step toward improving personalized pain medicine.

Nursing

functional MRI

adult lifespan

sex-differences

older adults

experimental pain

research protocol

Details

Title: Subtitle: Determining the impact of age and sex on the psychophysical and neurophysiological response to thermal pain across the adult lifespan
Creators: Sebastian W Atalla - The Ohio State University
Ronald L Cowan - Vanderbilt University
Alison R Anderson - Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital
Mary S Dietrich - Vanderbilt University
Larkin Iversen - The Ohio State University
Laura Beth Kalvas - The Ohio State University
Karen O Moss - The Ohio State University
Kathy Wright - The Ohio State University
Todd B Monroe - The Ohio State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of advanced nursing, Vol.77(3), pp.1546-1555
DOI: 10.1111/jan.14514
PMID: 33450111
PMCID: 7898385
NLM abbreviation: J Adv Nurs
ISSN: 0309-2402
eISSN: 1365-2648
Grant note: R21 AG045735 / NIA NIH HHS 1R21AG045735-01A1 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG059861 / NIA NIH HHS F31 NR018586 / NINR NIH HHS T32NR014225 / NINR NIH HHS F31NR018586 / NINR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2021
Academic Unit: Nursing
Record Identifier: 9984446453902771

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