Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Migraine and white matter hyperintensities.

Alyx Porter1, Jonathan P Gladstone, David W Dodick

  • 1University of Toronto, Division of Neurology, 1333 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 122, M2J 1V1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Current Pain and Headache Reports
|July 12, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Migraine patients often have white matter hyperintensities on MRI scans. Distinguishing these nonspecific lesions from those indicating serious underlying diseases is crucial for accurate diagnosis and patient care.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Plasma Phosphorylated Tau 217 in Participants at Risk for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

JAMA network open·2026
Same author

Identification of a central CGRP circuit for trigeminal V1-mediated migraine-like pain in mice.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Sexually dimorphic mediation of experimental post-traumatic headache by orexin receptor signaling.

Pain·2026
Same author

Imaging the later-life white matter pathologies of repetitive head impacts: A novel pattern revealed through T2 FLAIR MRI.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2026
Same author

Factors associated with subjective cognitive complaints in former American football players.

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS·2026
Same author

Inflammation, Limbic White Matter Microstructure, and Clinical Symptoms in Retired American Football Players With Repetitive Head Impacts.

Neurology·2026

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Patients with migraine exhibit a higher prevalence of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • The clinical significance and long-term effects of these WMH in migraineurs remain largely undetermined.
  • Differentiating nonspecific WMH from those indicative of specific neurological disorders is a diagnostic challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the importance of distinguishing between nonspecific white matter hyperintensities and disease-specific patterns in migraine patients.
  • To underscore the clinical implications for physicians managing migraine sufferers with incidental MRI findings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on white matter hyperintensities in migraine.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of neuroimaging findings in migraine patients.
  • Comparison of patterns of white matter lesions associated with migraine versus specific cerebrovascular diseases.

    • Main Results:

    • Migraineurs are at an increased risk for white matter hyperintensities.
    • WMH in migraine can sometimes be associated with underlying conditions like CADASIL, MELAS, or CNS vasculitis.
    • Uncertainty regarding the cause of WMH can lead to physician and patient anxiety.

    Conclusions:

    • Accurate differentiation of nonspecific WMH from disease-specific lesions is vital for clinicians treating migraine patients.
    • Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiology and long-term consequences of WMH in migraine.
    • Improved diagnostic criteria can reduce patient anxiety and guide appropriate management strategies.