Do Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Relationship between Multi-dimensional Chronic Pain and Subjective Cognitive Decline?

Abstract

Background

The relationship between multidimensional chronic pain (frequency, intensity, and interference) and subjective cognitive decline remains unclear, and the roles of depression and anxiety in this relationship are still unknown.

Objective

To investigate depression and anxiety as mediators in the relationship between multidimensional chronic pain and subjective cognitive decline.

Methods

A cross-sectional study on 10,095 older adults from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey was conducted. Parallel mediation models with bootstrapping were used to assess mediating effects.

Results

Pain frequency and intensity had significant direct effects on subjective cognitive decline, while all three pain dimensions had significant indirect effects on subjective cognitive decline through depression or anxiety.

Conclusion

Depression and anxiety mediate, the relationship between multidimensional chronic pain and subjective cognitive decline, highlighting their role in the pathway from chronic pain to subjective cognitive decline.

Keywords

chronic pain subjective cognitive decline depression anxiety

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