Nagging, chronic pain can be debilitating and distracting. You’re always aware that something’s not quite right. And new research suggests the impact of that pain may not only affect you in the moment but could trigger long-term, detrimental changes in your brain. In a newly published study out of the University of California San Francisco, researchers found an association between chronic pain and memory problems, and possibly even increased incidence of dementia. Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study underscores the importance of treating pain, especially as patients age, not only to bring about immediate relief but to protect cognitive skills for the long term. Read more about this new study Here.