Restless sleep behind widespread pain in the elderly?

In your 50s and suffer from widespread pain? Restless sleep may be the reason behind this.

Researchers say non-restorative sleep is the strongest predictor of widespread pain onset among adults over age 50.

Anxiety, memory impairment and poor physical health among older adults may also increase the risk of developing widespread pain.

Muscle, bone and nerve (musculoskeletal) pain is more prevalent as people age, with up to 80 percent of people 65 years of age and older experiencing daily pain.

Widespread pain that affects multiple areas of the body – the hallmark feature of fibromyalgia – affects 15 percent of women and 10 percent of men over age 50, according to previous studies.

Led by John McBeth from Keele University in Staffordshire in Britain, the study identified factors that increase the risk of the development of widespread pain in older adults.

The team collected data on pain, psychological and physical health, lifestyle and demographic information from 4,326 adults over age 50.

These participants were followed up three years later for the development of widespread pain.

Analyses determined that pain status, anxiety, physical health-related quality of life, cognitive complaint and non-restorative sleep were associated with increased risk of widespread pain development.

The study was published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology. (IANS)