FIGURE 2.

Pain and specific comorbidities in the elderly. There is evidence of a correlation between pain syndromes and comorbidities in older individuals. Viral infections in elder patients with comorbidities has been associated with chronic pain. Parkinson’s disease induces higher hypernociception and widespread pressure pain, low back pain, and depression, and pain likely precedes the motor symptoms. Also, persistent pain has been related to the appearance of depression and memory deficits in older people. It has been proposed that elders with osteoarthritis are at higher risk to develop Alzheimer’s dementia. Older women with burning mouth syndrome diagnosis demonstrated cold and warm hypoesthesia, small fiber neuropathy, with higher levels of anxiety and depression, in a condition that is typically misdiagnosed in seniors.