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Updated: May 12, 2026
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Structural brain changes in migraine
Inge H Palm-Meinders1, Hille Koppen, Gisela M Terwindt
1Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
Context:
A previous cross-sectional study showed an association of migraine with a higher prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-measured ischemic lesions in the brain.
Objective:
To determine whether women or men with migraine (with and without aura) have a higher incidence of brain lesions 9 years after initial MRI, whether migraine frequency was associated with progression of brain lesions, and whether progression of brain lesions was associated with cognitive decline.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
In a follow-up of the 2000 Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiological Risk Analysis cohort, a prospective population-based observational study of Dutch participants with migraine and an age- and sex-matched control group, 203 of the 295 baseline participants in the migraine group and 83 of 140 in the control group underwent MRI scan in 2009 to identify progression of MRI-measured brain lesions. Comparisons were adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, and educational level. The participants in the migraine group were a mean 57 years (range, 43-72 years), and 71% were women. Those in the control group were a mean 55 years (range, 44-71 years), and 69% were women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Progression of MRI-measured cerebral deep white matter hyperintensities, infratentorial hyperintensities, and posterior circulation territory infarctlike lesions. Change in cognition was also measured.
Results:
Of the 145 women in the migraine group, 112 (77%) vs 33 of 55 women (60%) in the control group had progression of deep white matter hyperintensities (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.1; 95%CI, 1.0-4.1; P = .04). There were no significant associations of migraine with progression of infratentorial hyperintensities: 21 participants (15%) in the migraine group and 1 of 57 participants (2%) in the control group showed progression (adjusted OR, 7.7; 95% CI, 1.0-59.5; P = .05) or new posterior circulation territory infarctlike lesions: 10 of 203 participants (5%) in the migraine group but none of 83 in the control group (P = .07). There was no association of number or frequency of migraine headaches with progression of lesions. There was no significant association of high vs nonhigh deep white matter hyperintensity load with change in cognitive scores (-3.7 in the migraine group vs 1.4 in the control group; 95% CI, -4.4 to 0.2; adjusted P = .07).
Conclusions:
In a community-based cohort followed up after 9 years, women with migraine had a higher incidence of deep white matter hyperintensities but did not have significantly higher progression of other MRI-measured brain changes. There was no association of migraine with progression of any MRI-measured brain lesions in men.
Insights
Women with migraine showed increased deep white matter hyperintensities on MRI scans over 9 years. Migraine was not associated with other brain lesion progression in women or any lesions in men.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous studies suggest a link between migraine and brain lesions.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has identified ischemic lesions in individuals with migraine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of brain lesions in men and women with migraine over 9 years.
- To determine if migraine frequency correlates with lesion progression.
- To assess the association between brain lesion progression and cognitive decline.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, population-based observational study followed a cohort of Dutch participants with migraine and a control group.
- Participants underwent repeat MRI scans after 9 years to assess progression of deep white matter hyperintensities, infratentorial hyperintensities, and posterior circulation territory infarctlike lesions.
- Cognitive function was also measured.
Main Results:
- Women with migraine exhibited a higher incidence of deep white matter hyperintensities compared to controls (77% vs. 60%).
- No significant association was found between migraine and the progression of infratentorial hyperintensities or posterior circulation infarctlike lesions in women.
- Migraine was not associated with any MRI-measured brain lesion progression in men, nor was migraine frequency linked to lesion progression or cognitive decline.
Conclusions:
- Women with migraine have an increased risk of developing deep white matter hyperintensities over time.
- Migraine in men is not associated with the progression of MRI-detected brain lesions.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term neurological implications of migraine.
