Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Examining the Role of Central Sensitization with Aging: an Investigation of Older Adults with and without Chronic Low Back Pain

Award Number: F30AG081010
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/05/2023
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2023

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Examining the Role of Central Sensitization with Aging: an Investigation of Older Adults with and without Chronic Low Back Pain - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Chronic pain affects over 5 million older adults every year in the United States. This burden is expected to worsen in the coming years given that the general population is aging, chronic pain prevalence is inordinately high among older adults, and it is unknown why aging is a risk factor for chronic pain disorders. The National Institute on Aging is keenly aware of this impasse, as evidenced by requests for research to focus on the “elucidation of mechanisms underlying pain experience and its consequences in aging”. Literature has established sensitization of the central nervous system (termed central sensitization) as an impairment that amplifies pain perception in young and middle aged adults with chronic pain, leading to pain persistence and resultant disability. However, a paucity of research has evaluated the presence and consequences of central sensitization in geriatric chronic pain conditions, including chronic low back pain. This gap in knowledge is further complicated by a lack of understanding whether central sensitization occurs with aging, and an absence of definitive diagnostic criteria for central sensitization. Therefore, the goals of this proposal are to elucidate if and how central sensitization develops as a result of biological aging, and characterize the presence and clinical implications of central sensitization in older adults with chronic low back pain. In Aim 1, we will determine the extent to which older adults with chronic low back pain demonstrate increased static and dynamic pain sensitivity compared to older and younger adults without chronic pain. For Aim 2, we will quantify differences in experimentally-induced sensitization between these three groups. In Aim 3, we will examine the relationship between indicators of central sensitization and clinical measures of pain, physical function and perceived disability among older adults with chronic low back pain. The central hypothesis of this proposal is that older adults with chronic low back pain will demonstrate the greatest magnitude of central sensitization, which will be associated with greater clinical pain intensity, poorer physical function, and worse perceived disability. The results have the potential to inform primary, secondary and tertiary prevention efforts by determining if CS occurs with biological aging, optimizing the identification of CS by combining standard and novel measurement methodologies, and providing foundational evidence for a potentially modifiable mechanism that burdens older adults with chronic low back pain, respectively. This proposal is a critical first step towards the long-term goal of this fellowship applicant, which is to improve primary, secondary and tertiary prevention efforts for vulnerable chronic pain populations by quantifying and intervening upon mechanisms (such as CS) that underlie maladaptive pain sensitivity. Additionally, this fellowship proposal will provide the applicant with structured training from mentors with expertise in gerontology, pain science and rehabilitation; this training will not only facilitate completion of this research project, but also prepare the applicant for a career as a productive clinician scientist.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$23,613 )
2025	2023	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	550 S COLLEGE AVE	NEWARK	DE	19713	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	000	1	2/26/2025	NEW	-$23,613
														Subtotal = -$23,613

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$15,592 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	220 HULLIHEN HALL	NEWARK	DE	19716	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	000	2	4/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$52,694
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	220 HULLIHEN HALL	NEWARK	DE	19716	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	001	2	4/15/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$52,694
2024	2023	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	220 HULLIHEN HALL	NEWARK	DE	19716	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	002	1	4/16/2024	NEW	-$15,592
														Subtotal = -$15,592

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $51,752 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	220 HULLIHEN HALL	NEWARK	DE	19716	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	001	1	3/28/2023	NEW	$0
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE	220 HULLIHEN HALL	NEWARK	DE	19716	NEW CASTLE	USA	Aging Research	000	1	3/28/2023	NEW	$51,752
														Subtotal = $51,752

Grand Total All Awards = $12,547

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Examining the Role of Central Sensitization with Aging: an Investigation of Older Adults with and without Chronic Low Back Pain

Award Number: F30AG081010

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/05/2023

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2023

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer