Narrative review of chronic pain risk factors and prevention in older adults
This narrative review reports that individual, environmental and social factors were associated with pain persistence in older adults, and that preventive trials in this group remain scarce. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Individual-level factors such as physical inactivity, abnormal body weight, poor nutrition, sleep disturbance, multimorbidity and frailty were associated with pain persistence in older adults. [1]
Mechanistic evidence indicates that ageing is associated with impaired descending pain modulation and increased susceptibility to peripheral and central sensitisation. [1]
Randomised preventive trials in older adults remain scarce, though converging evidence suggests lifestyle modification and multimodal non-pharmacological strategies may reduce progression to chronic pain. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Narrative review (abstract)
- Population / context
- Older adults with chronic pain
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 11, 2026
Risk factors grouped for older adults with chronic pain
The review organises risk factors using the Dahlgren and Whitehead "Rainbow model" into individual, environmental and social determinants. Individual-level factors were associated with pain persistence: physical inactivity, abnormal body weight, poor nutrition, mental health disorders, maladaptive pain beliefs, sleep disturbance, previous surgical and postoperative pain, multimorbidity, frailty, smoking and alcohol use. Emerging evidence on environmental and social determinants — reduced nature and sunlight exposure, low socio-economic status, occupational factors and social isolation — suggests further increased pain vulnerability. These are associations, not established causes.
Supporting source [1]
Ageing and pain mechanisms described in the review
Mechanistic evidence cited in the review indicates that ageing is associated with impaired descending pain modulation and increased susceptibility to peripheral and central sensitisation. The review does not report new measurements of its own; it synthesises evidence from the last few decades.
Supporting source [1]
Prevention evidence remains scarce in older adults
Randomised preventive trials in older adults remain scarce. Converging evidence suggests that targeted lifestyle modification, early pain management and multimodal non-pharmacological strategies may reduce progression to chronic pain. The authors propose a prevention-oriented, risk-stratified approach integrating clinical care with broader public health strategies. This is a proposed framework, not a validated intervention.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a narrative review, not a new study, so it reports no own sample, follow-up or outcome data. The abstract states that randomised preventive trials in older adults remain scarce, and the prevention suggestions are described as converging evidence and a proposed approach.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Carneiro BD, Belo I, Torres S, Almeida ST, Tavares I. · europepmc.org · September 11, 2026