Is Migraine Primarily a Metaboloendocrine Disorder?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Migraine is a common neurological disorder.
• Metabolic and endocrine disorders are prevalent and impact overall health.
• Understanding comorbidities can reveal shared underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent studies on migraine comorbidity with metabolic and endocrine disorders.
• To explore insulin resistance as a potential common pathogenetic mechanism.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent clinical studies.
• Analysis of studies utilizing oral glucose tolerance tests.
• Examination of associations with obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes types.

Main Results:

• Migraine is associated with insulin resistance, evidenced by increased insulin and glucose levels post-glucose load.
• Obesity and hypertension are risk factors for both episodic and chronic migraine.
• Metabolic syndrome is linked to migraine with aura and medication overuse headache.
• A bidirectional link exists between migraine and hypothyroidism, suggesting shared genetic or autoimmune factors.
• Type 1 diabetes may have a protective effect, while type 2 diabetes shows no association.

Conclusions:

• Insulin resistance is a potential common pathogenetic mechanism linking migraine with metabolic and endocrine disorders.
• Altered insulin receptor signaling plays a role in migraine pathogenesis.
• Further research is needed to develop targeted therapeutic strategies for migraine based on insulin resistance.