Concurrent brain structural and functional alterations in patients with migraine without aura: an fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Migraine Pathophysiology

Background:

• Migraine without aura (MwoA) is a common neurological disorder.
• Understanding the underlying brain alterations is crucial for effective treatment.
• Previous studies have suggested various brain abnormalities in migraineurs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate concurrent structural and functional brain changes in MwoA patients during the interictal period.
• To identify specific brain regions affected by both structural and functional alterations in MwoA.
• To explore functional connectivity changes associated with identified brain regions.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 72 MwoA patients and 46 healthy subjects (HS).
• Acquired 3D-T1 and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) data.
• Utilized Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) for structural analysis and Regional Homogeneity (Reho) for fMRI analysis.
• Performed seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (FC) analysis using the median raphe nuclei (MRN) as the seed.

Main Results:

• MwoA patients exhibited decreased brain volume in the superior/inferior colliculus, periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), locus ceruleus, and MRN.
• Decreased Reho values were observed in the occipital cortex, while increased Reho was found in the MRN of MwoA patients.
• The MRN was the only region showing both structural and functional alterations.
• Increased FC was detected between the MRN and PAG in MwoA patients compared to HS.

Conclusions:

• The median raphe nuclei (MRN) play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine during the interictal phase.
• These findings contribute to a better understanding of migraine symptoms and mechanisms.
• The study highlights the involvement of brainstem structures in migraine without aura.