Skip to main content

MINI REVIEW article

Front. Aging
Sec. Healthy Longevity
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1477017
This article is part of the Research Topic Unraveling the Complexity of Aging: An In-Depth Examination of its Hallmarks View all articles

Chronic pain in the elderly: exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives

Provisionally accepted
Mario García Domínguez Mario García Domínguez *
  • University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Chronic pain is a debilitating condition frequently observed in the elderly, involving numerous pathological mechanisms within the nervous system. Diminished local blood flow, nerve degeneration, variations in fiber composition, alterations in ion channels and receptors, accompanied by the sustained activation of immune cells and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, lead to overactivation of the peripheral nervous system. In the central nervous system, chronic pain is strongly associated with the activation of glial cells, which results in central sensitization and increased pain perception. Moreover, age-related alterations in neural plasticity and disruptions in pain inhibitory pathways can exacerbate chronic pain in older adults. Finally, the environmental influences on the development of chronic pain in the elderly must be considered. An understanding of these mechanisms is essential for developing novel treatments for chronic pain, which can significantly improve the quality of life for this vulnerable population.

    Keywords: nociceptor, Chronic Pain, Pro-inflammatory cytokine, peripheral and central sensitization, neuroplasticity, Analgesic effects

    Received: 09 Aug 2024; Accepted: 29 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 García Domínguez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mario García Domínguez, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.