Latest research proves that those suffering from chronic back pain have impaired short term prospective memory when compared to those who do not have back pain.

Prospective memory can be defined as “remembering to perform an action”. For example, remembering to buy a pen for your child on your way back from office or remembering to make a phone call in the evening etc.

In a study conducted in the UK, the prospective memory of 50 people with chronic back pain was compared to the memory of 50 people without back pain. The evaluation of all the three aspects of prospective memory (long-term habitual, short-term episodic, and internally cued) was done using questionnaires. This study showed that those suffering from chronic back pain had impaired short-term prospective memory whereas those who belonged to the painless group did not show any impairment.

This impairment is linked to the pain and stress related to back pain and its impact on the person’s cognitive function. Another explanation is the exposure to glucocorticoid steroid used by the patients in the treatment.