Sex-specific trajectories and variability of pain burden in relation to cognitive decline and depressive symptoms in older adults: a prospective cohort study from health and retirement study

Sustained high pain burden and temporal variability in pain are important predictors of cognitive deterioration and depressive symptoms in older adults, with distinct sex-specific patterns. Incorporating dynamic pain features into risk assessment and implementing sex-sensitive interventions may facilitate early identification of at-risk individuals and mitigate subsequent cognitive and mental health decline.