Migraine and MRI: uncovering potential associations

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Migraine is a prevalent primary headache disorder with a notable female predominance.
• Clinical history is primary for diagnosis; neuroimaging is reserved for complex cases.
• Migraine significantly impacts patients' quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between migraine headaches and findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• To identify demographic and imaging characteristics of migraine patients with specific MRI findings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 670 migraine patients who underwent brain MRI.
• Data collected from January 2021 to March 2023 at King Abdullah University Hospital, Jordan.
• Two independent neuro-radiologists interpreted all MRI findings.

Main Results:

• White matter hyperintensity lesions were identified in 46.1% of migraine patients.
• Lesions were significantly associated with older age (mean 46.8 years) and female gender (79.6%).
• Advanced age was confirmed as an independent risk factor for white matter hyperintensity lesions.

Conclusions:

• A subset of migraine patients exhibit white matter hyperintensity lesions on brain MRI.
• Older age and female gender are associated with the presence of these lesions.
• The clinical significance of these MRI findings in migraine patients remains undetermined.