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The Journal of Headache and Pain
Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Migraine | Research article

Mid- to late-life migraine diagnoses and risk of dementia: a national register-based follow-up study

Authors: Sabrina Islamoska, Åse Marie Hansen, Hui-Xin Wang, Anne Helene Garde, Per Kragh Andersen, Ellen Garde, Jakob Møller Hansen, Gunhild Waldemar, Kirsten Nabe-Nielsen

Published in: The Journal of Headache and Pain | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Previous studies found an association between migraine and dementia, which are two leading causes of disability. However, these studies did not differentiate between migraine types and did not investigate all prevalent dementia subtypes. The main objective of this national register-based study was to investigate whether migraine was a risk factor for dementia. Additionally, we explored potential differences in dementia risk for migraine with and without aura.

Methods

We obtained data on birth cohorts born between 1935 and 1956 (n = 1,657,890) from Danish national registers. Individuals registered with migraine before age 59 (n = 18,135) were matched (1:5) on sex and birthdate with individuals without migraine (n = 1,378,346). Migraine was defined by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnoses and dementia was defined by ICD diagnoses and anti-dementia medication. After matching, 62,578 individuals were eligible for analysis. For the statistical analyses, we used Cox regression models and adjusted for socio-demographic factors and several psychiatric and somatic morbidities.

Results

During a median follow-up time of 6.9 (IQR: 3.6–11.2) years, 207 individuals with migraine developed dementia. Compared with individuals without migraine, we found a 50% higher rate of dementia among individuals with migraine (HR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.28–1.76). Individuals without aura had a 19% higher rate of dementia (HR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.84–1.70), and individuals with aura had a two times higher rate of dementia (HR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.48–3.00).

Conclusions

Our findings support the hypothesis that migraine is a midlife risk factor for dementia in later life. The higher rate of dementia in individuals with a hospital-based diagnosis of migraine with aura emphasizes the need for studies on pathological mechanisms and potential preventative measures. Furthermore, given that only hospital-based migraine diagnoses were included in this study, future research should also investigate migraine cases derived from the primary healthcare system to include less severe migraine cases.
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Metadata
Title
Mid- to late-life migraine diagnoses and risk of dementia: a national register-based follow-up study
Authors
Sabrina Islamoska
Åse Marie Hansen
Hui-Xin Wang
Anne Helene Garde
Per Kragh Andersen
Ellen Garde
Jakob Møller Hansen
Gunhild Waldemar
Kirsten Nabe-Nielsen
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
The Journal of Headache and Pain / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 1129-2369
Electronic ISSN: 1129-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-01166-7

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