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A landmark study of 6.1 million people across 118 countries found that pain doesn't simply worsen with age — it follows distinct trajectories depending on body region, sex, and where you live. High-intensity pain peaks around age 50, while generalized pain peaks near 70. Women, people in lower-income settings, and those with lower socioeconomic status consistently report higher pain prevalence.
A sweeping new study published in Nature Medicine analyzed data from over 6.1 million people across 118 countries spanning 35 years (1990–2025), and the headline finding is clear: pain does not simply get worse as we age. Instead, it follows multiple, distinct trajectories shaped by body region, sex, geography, and socioeconomic conditions.
While the share of people reporting any pain rises from ~30% at age 5 to ~70% at age 100+, high-intensity pain actually peaks around age 50 and generalized pain around age 70. Headache, abdominal, and facial pain tend to peak earlier in life, while musculoskeletal pain — particularly in the lower back, hips, and knees — increases longer into old age. The study also reinforces a biopsychosocial model of pain: the nervous system can become sensitized over time, and factors like depression, fear-avoidance, sleep, and access to care all influence whether acute pain becomes chronic.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: Pain is the most common reason people seek medical care, yet it's often under- or mismanaged. This research challenges the assumption that pain is simply a byproduct of aging and underscores the need for personalized, biopsychosocial approaches — especially for women, older adults, and patients in under-resourced settings.
