Aging and neuropathic pain.

Although chronic neuropathic pain disorders are more prevalent in the senescent population, little is known about how the aging process alters the thermal hyperalgesic sensitivity to peripheral nerve injury. In this study, neuropathic pain was induced in young, mature and aged FBNF1 hybrid rats via unilateral ligation of the left sciatic nerve. The extent to which the aging process affects the thermal hyperalgesic responsiveness of these animals was investigated. The results demonstrate that the aging process differentially alters nociceptive processing.