CHRONIC PAIN’S PAINFUL IMPACT ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING

Abstract One in five Americans adults report experiencing chronic pain and stated it has negatively impacted their lives by limiting engagement activities. The magnitude of experienced is more severe older adults, which may be due to age-related differences perception pathways leaving vulnerable the negative impact pain. most common type involves musculoskeletal disorders, consistent with declines muscle strength mass. Declines handgrip associated poor cognitive functioning. Older who experience have worse working memory attention. attentionally demanding on processes making difficult for draw attention away from during cognitively tasks. Chronic also accelerated decline cognition, dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis. As a GSA policy intern, I represented Protecting Access Pain Relief Coalition explore initiatives recommendations relation adults. Research pains’ physical function often conducted isolation. However, they seldom occur isolation real-world Therefore, research tasks that involve simultaneous functioning imperative. In addition, should considered as useful cost-effective screening tool measure