Chronic Pain and Brain Ageing: New Study Sheds Light on Interplay Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Brain Function

Strategic Insights -

A new study published in Brain Communications has found a complex interplay between chronic musculoskeletal pain and brain ageing. Researchers from the University of Florida, with funding from various institutions, investigated the relationship between chronic pain, socioenvironmental risk factors, and brain ageing in adults with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis. The study revealed that higher chronic pain stage and socioenvironmental risk are associated with an increased brain age gap, while higher behavioural/psychosocial protective factors correlate with a lower brain age gap.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that higher chronic pain stage and socioenvironmental risk are associated with an increased brain age gap, with participants having higher socioenvironmental risk having brains that were about three years older than those with lower risk.
  • Having more behavioural/psychosocial protective factors correlated with a lower brain age gap, with participants having higher behavioural/psychosocial protective factors having brains that were over three years younger than participants with fewer behavioural/psychosocial protective factors.
  • The study revealed that higher baseline behavioural/psychosocial protective factors are associated with lower brain age over the 2-year span, beyond the effects of chronic pain stage and socioenvironmental risk.
  • The study included 197 adults from a prospective observational cohort study, with most individuals reporting knee pain and being at risk of osteoarthritis.
  • A subset of 128 participants completed a follow-up MRI session at 2 years and were included in the longitudinal analysis.
  • Participants were 45-85 years of age and self-identified as non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic White.
  • The study collected data on demographics, health history, pain assessments, individual and community-level socioenvironmental factors, and behavioural/psychosocial factors.

Statistics:

  • 197 adults took part in the study from a prospective observational cohort.
  • 128 participants completed a follow-up MRI session at 2 years and were included in the longitudinal analysis.
  • 68 men and 129 women were part of the study.
  • The average age of participants was between 45 and 85 years.
  • 2025 is the year the study was conducted.
  • The study found that higher socioenvironmental risk had brains that were about three years older than those of participants with lower risk.
  • Participants with higher behavioural/psychosocial protective factors had brains that were over three years younger than participants with fewer behavioural/psychosocial protective factors.
  • The study revealed that longitudinal analysis found higher baseline behavioural/psychosocial protective factors to be associated with lower brain age over the 2-year span.

Sources:

  • More than chronic pain: behavioural and psychosocial protective factors predict lower brain age in adults with/at risk of knee osteoarthritis over two years. Brain Communications, 2025;7(5).
  • NewsRx. Findings from University of Florida in the Area of Knee Osteoarthritis Reported (More than chronic pain: behavioural and psychosocial protective factors predict lower brain age in adults with/at risk of knee osteoarthritis over two years). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 1455.