Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Migraine with aura white matter lesions: preliminary data on clinical aspects
Alberto Galli1, P Di Fiore2, G D'Arrigo2
1Neurological and Stroke Unit Department, Headache Center, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Via Pio II, 3, 20153, Milan, Italy. alberto.galli@asst-santipaolocarlo.it.
Abstract:
A few clinic-based magnetic resonance imaging studies report an increased risk of signal abnormalities in migraineurs brain's white matter, especially in migraine with aura subjects. A vascular genesis has been hypnotized and migraine with aura was considered an independent risk factor for stroke. Available data of magnetic resonance imaging alterations are often nonspecific and sometimes controversial. The aim of our study is to investigate migraine with aura patients with standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging to detect and to quantify the presence of white matter lesions and to analyze their relation with clinical data. We report preliminary data about first 90 subjects. We did not recognize any clinical aspect in close relationship with these alterations. The only clinical feature that seems to play a role in the presence of alterations is the age, and only in migraineurs women.
Insights
White matter abnormalities are common in migraine with aura patients. Preliminary data suggest age is the only clinical factor associated with these brain changes, particularly in women with migraine.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Clinic-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies suggest increased white matter signal abnormalities in migraineurs, particularly those with migraine with aura.
- Migraine with aura has been hypothesized to have a vascular genesis and considered a potential independent risk factor for stroke.
- Existing MRI data on alterations in migraine patients are often nonspecific and controversial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter lesions in migraine with aura patients using standardized brain MRI.
- To quantify the presence of white matter lesions.
- To analyze the relationship between these lesions and clinical data.
Main Methods:
- Standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on migraine with aura patients.
- Detection and quantification of white matter lesions were conducted.
- Clinical data were collected and analyzed in relation to MRI findings.
Main Results:
- Preliminary data from 90 subjects are reported.
- No specific clinical aspect was found to be closely related to the observed white matter alterations.
- Age emerged as the only clinical feature associated with the presence of alterations, specifically in women with migraine.
Conclusions:
- Standardized brain MRI can detect and quantify white matter lesions in migraine with aura patients.
- The relationship between white matter alterations and clinical data in migraine with aura is complex and requires further investigation.
- Age appears to be a significant factor influencing white matter changes in women with migraine.
