Why chronic pain risk may run in families

New York: Genetics, effects on early development and social learning are some factors that can increase the risk of chronic pain transmitting from parent to children, researchers suggest.

According to a report in the journal PAIN, the researchers identified some plausible mechanisms to explain the transmission of chronic pain from parent to child.

Genetic is a factor, which the research suggests, may account for roughly half of the risk of chronic pain in adults.

The study, conducted by Amanda Stone of Vanderbilt University and Anna Wilson of Oregon Health & Science University in the US also revealed that having a parent with chronic pain may affect the features and functioning of the nervous system during critical periods in early development.

"The outlined mechanisms, moderators, and vulnerabilities likely interact over time to influence the development of chronic pain and related outcomes in offspring of parents with chronic pain," the researchers said.

Parents' physical activity level and adverse effects from growing up in stressful circumstances are also related to increase in transfer of chronic pain, the study said.