Assessing Cognitive Function over Time in Patients with Refractory Chronic Migraine Who Received Ketamine Infusions:...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ketamine infusions are utilized for refractory chronic migraine.
• Concerns exist regarding ketamine's neurotoxicity and potential memory deficits.
• The impact of ketamine on cognitive function in these patients remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess cognitive function changes in patients with refractory chronic migraine after ketamine infusions.
• To evaluate the safety of ketamine infusions concerning cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study of adults with refractory chronic migraine undergoing ketamine infusion.
• Cognitive function assessed using the telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment (t-MoCA) at baseline and 1, 6, and 12 months.
• Analysis using generalized estimating equations adjusted for age and sex.

Main Results:

• No significant long-term cognitive impairment observed in most patients.
• t-MoCA scores showed a transient improvement at 1 month (p < 0.001) but returned to near baseline by 12 months.
• Monthly migraine days significantly decreased over the study period (p = 0.026 at 12 months).

Conclusions:

• Ketamine infusions for refractory chronic migraine appear safe regarding cognitive function in the short term.
• A small number of patients experienced worsening t-MoCA scores.
• Larger studies with control groups are necessary to confirm these findings and establish long-term safety.