When Distress Becomes Somatic: Dementia Family Caregivers' Distress and Genetic Vulnerability to Pain and Sleep Problems.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Stress can trigger physical pain and disturb sleep. Whether dementia family caregivers experience heightened pain is unknown. Cycles of unwanted thoughts about caregiving stressors and avoidance of these thoughts-that is, caregiving-related distress-may exacerbate both pain and sleep disturbances, and genetic susceptibility to stress may further modulate these associations.

Research design and methods

Dementia caregivers (72 spouses, 58 adult children, ages 34-89) rated the extent to which they experienced unintended thoughts about caregiving and tried to suppress such thoughts. They also reported their pain levels, sleep problems, and depressive symptoms. Peripheral blood leukocytes were genotyped for 5-HTTLPR (serotonin-transporter-linked polymorp

SUBMITTER: Wilson SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6857685 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature