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Updated: May 5, 2026
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3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
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Geriatric Migraine, Geroscience, and Sustainable Development Goals: Bridging Clinical Complexity and Public Health
Claudio Tana1, Michalis Kodounis2,3, Raffaele Ornello3
1Internal Medicine Unit, Eastern Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Locale of Taranto, 74121 Taranto, Italy.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Migraine in older adults is often overlooked, presenting with atypical symptoms and complicating diagnosis and treatment due to age-related factors and comorbidities. Recognizing these unique challenges is crucial for improving care and quality of life for elderly migraine patients.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Migraine in older adults is an underrecognized issue in aging populations, complicated by multimorbidity, frailty, and polypharmacy.
- Migraine can persist or emerge after age 60, often with atypical features that cause diagnostic uncertainty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of migraine in older adults, focusing on epidemiology, presentation, pathophysiology, and management.
- To highlight age-related complexities, therapeutic challenges, and unmet clinical needs in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review adhering to SANRA principles.
- Comprehensive overview of existing literature on migraine in the elderly.
Main Results:
- Migraine in older adults frequently presents atypically (e.g., aura without headache, vestibular symptoms), potentially overlapping with cerebrovascular conditions.
- The disease burden is significant, impacting physical function, cognition, and emotional well-being, exacerbated by comorbidities like cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
- Aging-related neurobiological changes may affect migraine expression and treatment response; polypharmacy and adverse drug effects complicate management, necessitating individualized and non-pharmacological approaches.
Conclusions:
- Migraine in older adults is a major, often overlooked cause of disability and reduced quality of life.
- Enhanced recognition of unique clinical features and age-specific vulnerabilities is vital for patient-centered care.
- Future research must include older populations and develop tailored, safe, and effective management strategies.
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