Central nervous system abnormalities in migraine.
Migraine is associated with structural and functional CNS changes, for example, ictal hyperalgesia and allodynia and interictal neural excitation. Structural abnormalities, most notably white matter changes, occur in greater prevalence in migraineurs (16 - 40%). Several studies have examined the neuropsychological correlates of migraine and/or white matter abnormalities. These studies suggest mild, interictal dysfunction in migraineurs. More research is needed to correlate migraine severity, frequency and/or treatment with neuropsychological testing. Additional studies should: identify interictal cognitive changes; clarify the contribution to long-term cognitive changes from migraine genotype, sequelae of repeated pain episodes or their treatment and the consequences of co-morbid vascular disease; and include cognitive measures as secondary end points in clinical trials.
Marcus
Dawn A
DA
Pain Evaluation & Treatment Institute, 5750 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, USA. dawnpainmd@yahoo.com
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology