Increased spinal nociception and reduced pain communication in dementia

Patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) complain less often about acute and chronic pain. The reduce pain report might either be due to a diminished ability to communicate pain or might be due to decreased nociception caused by neuropathological changes in the central pain pathways. Previous studies revealed that the pain threshold is unchanged in patients with AD, whereas the tolerance threshold is markedly increased. In addition to verbal pain ratings we aimed to assessed the nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR). The NFR is a spinal physiological reflex of protection which underlies spinal and supra spina…