title: Investigation of late-onset migraine.
abstract: Sixty-nine patients presenting with migraine, with or without aura, after age 40 were investigated with CT or MRI brain scanning, carotid ultrasound and serum antibody studies. A 2:1 female:male predominance was found, the mean age of presentation being 51.6 years. Migraine with aura was reported in 86% of patients. 46% of the females had active menopausal symptoms. No significant haematological or serological abnormalities were detected. CT or MRI brain imaging was normal in 93% of cases; 4 patients had evidence of cerebral infarction. No cerebral tumour or vascular malformation was found. Three patients had evidence of mild-moderate carotid atheroma on ultrasound scanning. Routine detailed investigation of late-onset migraine is unlikely to be of value unless the history is atypical or abnormalities are present on clinical examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Neurology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed