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Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study
Xue Jiang, Elin Johansson, Jo Nijs, Xue‐Qiang Wang. Anesthesiology, 2025-08-25
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This study analyzed 13 yr of follow-up data from 188,594 participants to assess the relationship between CWP and cognitive outcomes, while exploring the mediating effects of brain structure and systemic inflammation. Individuals with CWP have an elevated risk of mild cognitive impairment (hazard ratio [95% CI], 2.55 [1.31 to 4.97]) and dementia (1.53 [1.13 to 2.0]). No evidence of a causal association was found between CWP and dementia (β = 1.50, PAdjusted = 0.076). Additionally, brain structural volumes (thalamus, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus) and systemic inflammatory markers (lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophils, and leukocytes) may mediate the relationship between CWP and cognitive performance, as imprecision in timing of mediator assessment should lead to cautious interpretation. CWP is significantly associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, mediated by alterations in brain structure and systemic inflammation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Jiang, X., Johansson, E., Nijs, J., & Wang, X. (2025). Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study. Anesthesiology. https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000005731
Vancouver
Jiang X, Johansson E, Nijs J, Wang X. Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study. Anesthesiology. 2025. doi:10.1097/aln.0000000000005731. PMID: 40853746.
BibTeX
@article{jiang2025-40853746,
author = {Jiang, Xue and Johansson, Elin and Nijs, Jo and Wang, Xue‐Qiang},
title = {{Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Chronic Widespread Pain: A Longitudinal Population-based Study}},
journal = {Anesthesiology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1097/aln.0000000000005731},
pmid = {40853746},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/aln.0000000000005731}
}
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Key findings
- This study analyzed 13 yr of follow-up data from 188,594 participants to assess the relationship between CWP and cognitive outcomes, while exploring the mediating effects of brain structure and systemic inflammation.
- Individuals with CWP have an elevated risk of mild cognitive impairment (hazard ratio [95% CI], 2.55 [1.31 to 4.97]) and dementia (1.53 [1.13 to 2.0]).
- No evidence of a causal association was found between CWP and dementia (β = 1.50, PAdjusted = 0.076).
- Additionally, brain structural volumes (thalamus, insular cortex, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, precentral gyrus, and postcentral gyrus) and systemic inflammatory markers (lymphocytes, platelets, neutrophils, and leukocytes) may mediate the relationship between CWP and cognitive performance, as imprecision in timing of mediator assessment should lead to cautious interpretation.
- CWP is significantly associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, mediated by alterations in brain structure and systemic inflammation.
Why it matters
People with chronic widespread pain had a higher risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, but the study found no evidence of a causal association between chronic widespread pain and dementia. The authors note that imprecision in the timing of mediator assessment means the mediation findings should be interpreted cautiously.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants500,000
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Anesthesiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Anesthesiology: journal h-index 368 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 500,000 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 8 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 8 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xue‐Qiang Wang: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | KU Leuven: institution h-index 1,386 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40853746) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
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