Chronic Postsurgical Pain, Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Resilience

The specific study objectives are to: 1- explore the association of CPSP, pain management (opioid use), and patient satisfaction, with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), measured both as change in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and through a neuropsychological test battery, 2- explore whether postoperative cognitive changes are associated with changes in neurogenesis correlates and in neurotrophic factors levels, and whether this association is mediated by changes in pain, mobility, and satisfaction, and 3- explore the association between coping strategies/expectations as measured by the Somatic Preoccupation and Coping (SPOC) questionnaire and cognitive function, and in particular the relationship between changes in SPOC and cognitive changes from preoperative to 4-6 weeks after surgery. Investigators will recruit 150 patients, 50 years or older scheduled for knee or hip arthroplasty 1-2 weeks before surgery (baseline) and collect information about their socio-demographics data, comorbidities, frailty, anxiety, pain, and pain medications. The SPOC questionnaire is administered at baseline and repeated at 4-6 weeks after surgery. CPSP (presence and severity) and satisfaction with surgery are measured at 3, 6, and 12 months. Cognitive / neuropsychological assessments will be administered at baseline, and 4-6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Blood samples for serum and RNA expression analysis of biomarkers will be longitudinally collected with the same timeline.