Latent Aging Mechanisms in Pain and Sleep

Inclusion Criteria:

• Older adults 45 years of age or older who experienced pain of at least moderateintensity (>5/10 pain intensity ratings) on more days than not during the past threemonths, and who also reported poor sleep quality (>5 PSQI scores) will be consideredfor participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. serious psychiatric conditions (e.g., schizophrenia, major depression, bipolardisorder;

2. history of alcohol/drug abuse;

3. Alzheimer, Parkinson, Epilepsy and other known intra-cerebral pathology andneurological conditions;

4. significant cognitive impairment as evidenced by the Modified Mini-Mental StateExamination [3MS] score ≤ 77;

5. hospitalizations for mental health reasons in the past year;

6. chronic/current use of narcotic medications;

7. serious systemic (uncontrolled diabetes self-reported HA1C>7), (uncontrolledhypertension > 155/90 mm Hg) and rheumatic disorders (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia, HIV);

8. arterial hypotension;

9. digestive tract diseases;

10. major medical surgery in the past two months, history of brain surgery or anyserious brain condition like aneurysm, stroke, or seizures;

11. excessive anxiety regarding protocol procedures;

12. Inability to consent for study participation;

13. Ingestion of sleep medications including those with zolpidem (Ambien and others) andeszopiclone (Lunesta and others);

14. Neuropathic pain medications including anticonvulsants and antidepressants;

15. Allergies or sensitivity to GABA or its ingredients cellulose' gelatin (capsule)'magnesium silicate' vegetable stearate and silica or to the placebo or itsingredients: calcium laurate, hypromellose capsule, magnesium (citrate),microcrystalline cellulose;

16. currently taking barbiturate and benzodiazepine and baclofen;

17. MRI contraindications including large pieces of metal in the body/face/neck andclaustrophobia;

18. current cancer diagnosis unless determined no evidence of disease or in remissionfor at least two years, and

19. pregnancy