Chronic Pain Makes You Think Differently

Research reveals that persistent pain alters parts of the brain involved in decision-making.

By Holly Barker
Mar 28, 2022 6:00 PMMar 29, 2022 2:24 PM
Chronic pain
(Credit: TB studio/Shutterstock)

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Chronic pain can shape lives in profound ways, from hastening an early retirement to causing a reliance on prescription painkillers. Yet studies into long-term pain reveal an even more insidious consequence — people in pain often make poorer decisions, including risky financial ventures and unhealthy food choices. 

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