Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
18.2K
Sleep Symptoms in Migraine.
Marc Daou1, Angeliki Vgontzas2,3
1Department of Neurology, Tufts Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|June 12, 2024
Summary
Migraine patients frequently experience poor sleep quality and insomnia between attacks, not during. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) significantly improves headache burden in chronic migraine patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Migraine is frequently associated with sleep disturbances.
- Understanding the relationship between sleep and migraine is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight studies on sleep in episodic and chronic migraine.
- To differentiate between attack-related and interictal sleep symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Review of replicated and novel studies on sleep in pediatric and adult migraine populations.
- Analysis of objective and subjective sleep data in relation to migraine phases.
Main Results:
- Sleep symptoms are most prominent in migraine prodrome, potentially linked to hypothalamic activation.
- Interictally, migraine patients report poor sleep quality and insomnia, indicating worsening disease.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) shows significant benefits for headache burden in chronic migraine.
Conclusions:
- Insomnia and poor sleep quality in migraine are primarily interictal, not attack-related.
- Migraine is not currently associated with sleep apnea or strong circadian influence based on evidence.
- Clinical guidelines for sleep symptoms and expanded CBT-I trials are needed for migraine patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
1.3K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.3K
01:07Narcolepsy
101
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
101
01:19Management of Insomnia
244
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
244
01:22Stages of Sleep
184
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
184
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
139
Insufficient sleep refers to not getting the recommended amount of sleep for optimal functioning, even if it's just slightly less than needed. Sleep insufficiency may occur due to lifestyle choices, such as staying up late for social events or work, resulting in routinely getting less sleep than required. For example, consistently sleeping 6 hours when the body needs 7-9 hours can lead to cumulative effects on health and well-being.
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
139
01:27Insomnia
82
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Multiple factors contribute...
82