Understanding Cognition, Oxytocin & Pain in Elders

Inclusion Criteria

• knee osteoarthritis/or back pain of at least six months duration, experience pain on more days than not, with moderate pain at baseline (i.e., > 3/6 in the Visual Descriptor Scale), and who have elevated levels of plasma Imterleukin-6 (>2.5 pg/ml) will be considered for participation.

Exclusion Criteria

• Hypersensitivity to OT or vasopressin,
• history of hyponatremia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, or psychogenic polydipsia,
• on vasoconstrictors such as desmopressin, pseudoephedrine, or antidiuretic medication,
• low sodium and high osmolality levels,
• excessive smoking,
• excessive drinking,
• muscle pain as a result of systemic disease,
• significant nasal pathology,
• previous or concurrent use of narcotics delivered intranasally (e.g., cocaine),
• gastroparesis.
• individuals with heart problems (e.g., cardiomyopathy, history of myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, prolonged QT interval)
• Participants will also be excluded if they have concurrent medical or arthritic conditions that could confound symptomatic knee osteoarthritis-related outcomes or coexisting disease that could preclude successful completion of the protocol including:
• systemic rheumatic condition (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia);
• a history of clinically significant surgery to the index knee;
• uncontrolled hypertension (>150/95);
• poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c>7%);
• neurological disease (e.g., Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis);
• cardiovascular or peripheral arterial disease;
• serious psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization within the past twelve months or characterized by active suicidal ideation;
• diminished cognitive function that would interfere with completion of study procedures (i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment score < 25)]; and
• large pieces of metal in the body or metal in the face or neck,
• claustrophobia,
• major medical surgery in the past two months,
• history of brain surgery or any serious brain condition like aneurysm, stroke, or seizures].
• pregnant individuals will be excluded