One simple question detects motion sickness susceptibility in migraine patients

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Ophthalmology
• Vestibular Science

Background:

• Migraine, particularly vestibular migraine (VM), is often associated with heightened motion sickness susceptibility (MSS).
• Differentiating MSS levels between VM and migraine-only (MO) patients is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and patient management.
• A simple, accessible method for assessing MSS in clinical settings is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of a single question in assessing MSS in VM and MO patients.
• To compare the MSS levels between VM patients, MO patients, and healthy controls (HCs).
• To determine if a simple question can serve as a proxy for validated MSS questionnaires.

Main Methods:

• Ninety-two VM patients, 58 MO patients, and 74 HCs were surveyed.
• Participants answered a question about their ability to read in a car without motion sickness.
• The Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ-Short) was administered to all participants.

Main Results:

• Both VM and MO patients exhibited significantly higher childhood MSS (MSA) scores than HCs.
• VM patients demonstrated significantly higher adulthood (MSB) and total (MST) MSS scores compared to MO patients and HCs.
• The single question about reading in a car showed high accuracy in detecting MSS, correlating well with the MSSQ-Short.

Conclusions:

• Migraine patients may share similar childhood MSS, but VM patients appear less able to compensate over time compared to MO patients.
• The ability to read while traveling in a car without motion sickness is a reliable and simple indicator of MSS.
• This question offers a practical screening tool for assessing MSS in individuals with migraine.