Who is at a higher risk for developing chronic pain?

Older adults are at a higher risk for developing chronic pain due to several interconnected factors. As people age, they are more likely to experience a range of underlying health conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and other musculoskeletal problems that can lead to persistent pain. Additionally, the biological aging process can affect how pain is perceived and processed in the body.

Older adults may have a decreased resilience to pain due to changes in their nervous system and a decline in physical activity levels, which can contribute to muscle weakness and increased frailty. Moreover, comorbidities—the presence of multiple health issues—are more common in this age group, creating more opportunities for pain to develop and persist.

While other age groups, like children and young adults, can experience acute pain and sometimes develop chronic pain conditions, the cumulative impact of age, health conditions, and physiological changes makes older adults particularly vulnerable to chronic pain disorders. Middle-aged adults, while also at risk, do not typically face the same combination of factors seen in older adults that significantly increase chronic pain likelihood.