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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Migraine | Research

Assessing volumetric brain differences in migraine and depression patients: a UK Biobank study

Authors: Oreste Affatato, Amelia D. Dahlén, Gull Rukh, Helgi B. Schiöth, Jessica Mwinyi

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2023

Abstract

Background

Migraine and depression are two of the most common and debilitating conditions. From a clinical perspective, they are mostly prevalent in women and manifest a partial overlapping symptomatology. Despite the high level of comorbidity, previous studies hardly investigated possible common patterns in brain volumetric differences compared to healthy subjects. Therefore, the current study investigates and compares the volumetric difference patterns in sub-cortical regions between participants with migraine or depression in comparison to healthy controls.

Methods

The study included data from 43 930 participants of the large UK Biobank cohort. Using official ICD10 diagnosis, we selected 712 participants with migraine, 1 853 with depression and 23 942 healthy controls. We estimated mean volumetric difference between the groups for the different sub-cortical brain regions using generalized linear regression models, conditioning the model within the levels of BMI, age, sex, ethnical background, diastolic blood pressure, current tobacco smoking, alcohol intake frequency, Assessment Centre, Indices of Multiple Deprivation, comorbidities and total brain volume.

Results

We detected larger overall volume of the caudate (mean difference: 66, 95% CI [-3, 135]) and of the thalamus (mean difference: 103 mm³, 95% CI [-2, 208]) in migraineurs than healthy controls. We also observed that individuals with depression appear to have also larger overall (mean difference: 47 mm³, 95% CI [-7, 100]) and gray matter (mean difference: 49 mm³, 95% CI [2, 95]) putamen volumes than healthy controls, as well as larger amygdala volume (mean difference: 17 mm³, 95% CI [-7, 40]).

Conclusion

Migraineurs manifested larger overall volumes at the level of the nucleus caudate and of the thalamus, which might imply abnormal pain modulation and increased migraine susceptibility. Larger amygdala and putamen volumes in participants with depression than controls might be due to increased neuronal activity in these regions.

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Title: Assessing volumetric brain differences in migraine and depression patients: a UK Biobank study
Authors: Oreste Affatato
Amelia D. Dahlén
Gull Rukh
Helgi B. Schiöth
Jessica Mwinyi
Publication date: 01-12-2023
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Migraine
Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Published in: BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-023-03336-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Assessing volumetric brain differences in migraine and depression patients: a UK Biobank study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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