Headache, migraine, and structural brain lesions and function: population based Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing-MRI study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of overall and specific headaches with volume of white matter hyperintensities, brain infarcts, and cognition.
DESIGN: Population based, cross sectional study.
SETTING: Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study, Nantes, France. PARTICIPANTS: 780 participants (mean age 69, 58.5% women) with detailed headache assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Brain scans were evaluated for volume of white matter hyperintensities (by fully automated imaging processing) and for classification of infarcts (by visual reading with a standardised assessment grid). Cognitive function was assessed by a battery of tests including the mini-mental state examination.
RESULTS: 163 (20.9%) participants reported a history of severe headache and 116 had migraine, of whom 17 (14.7%) reported aura symptoms. An association was found between any history of severe headache and increasing volume of white matter hyperintensities. The adjusted odds ratio of being in the highest third for total volume of white matter hyperintensities was 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.1, P for trend 0.002) for participants with any history of severe headache when compared with participants without severe headache being in the lowest third. The association pattern was similar for all headache types. Migraine with aura was the only headache type strongly associated with volume of deep white matter hyperintensities (highest third odds ratio 12.4, 1.6 to 99.4, P for trend 0.005) and with brain infarcts (3.4, 1.2 to 9.3). The location of infarcts was predominantly outside the cerebellum and brain stem. Evidence was lacking for cognitive impairment for any headache type with or without brain lesions.
CONCLUSIONS: In this population based study, any history of severe headache was associated with an increased volume of white matter hyperintensities. Migraine with aura was the only headache type associated with brain infarcts. Evidence that headache of any type by itself or in combination with brain lesions was associated with cognitive impairment was lacking.

Introduction

Many people in the general population have primary and often disabling headache disorders.1 2 3 The most common forms are migraine and tension-type headache. Migraine is a recurrent primary headache disorder that has close links to the neuronal and cerebrovascular system, and in some patients is accompanied by transient neurological symptoms, mostly of the visual field, known as migraine aura.

Headaches in general and migraine in particular have been associated with an increased risk of comorbidities.1 4 Evidence is accumulating that migraine with aura is a marker for increased risk of cardiovascular disease,5 6 7 specifically stroke.8 9 In addition, migraine has been associated with a variety of structural brain lesions, including clinically silent infarct-like lesions10 11 in the posterior circulation territory and with white matter hyperintensities (lesions appearing in white matter on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain). White matter hyperintensities can be seen in some apparently healthy people12 and in patients with motor and cognitive dysfunctions.13 14 15 16 These lesions have been commonly interpreted as lesions of ischaemic origin, which is consistent with their association with vascular risk factors17 18 and increased risk of ischaemic stroke.16

Several studies have reported an association between migraine and white matter hyperintensities.19 20 21 22 A meta-analysis indicated a fourfold increased risk for these lesions in people with migraine compared with controls.23 Many uncertainties remain, however, as some of the studies linking migraine with white matter hyperintensities had no direct migraine-free control group,20 did not include people over age 60,22 24 25 or used a case-control design.23 Furthermore, initial evidence suggests that other headache types are also associated with white matter hyperintensities,26 but most studies had no information on non-migraine headache. In addition, it remains unclear whether structural brain lesions among people with headache are associated with impaired cognitive function. We evaluated the association of overall and specific headache types with volume of white matter hyperintensities and infarct lesions as well as with cognitive performance in the population based Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study.

Methods

The Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study is a longitudinal study that recruited men and women born between 1922 and 1932 from the electoral rolls of the city of Nantes, France, without specific exclusion criteria.27 During the baseline visit (1991-3), 1389 participants were enrolled. In a face to face interview at the examination centre, standardised questionnaires were used to ascertain information about demographics and medical history as well as personal characteristics and habits, such as cigarette and alcohol consumption. Trained staff measured height, weight, and blood pressure and took fasting blood samples following standardised procedures.28 Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Headache assessment

Information on headache was ascertained in a two step approach among 1188 people who participated in the second follow-up visit, four years after the baseline visit. Firstly, during a face to face interview, trained staff asked participants standardised questions about lifetime history of severe headaches and headache features. Interviewers were specially trained to administer the questionnaire and to ask the questions. Interviewers were instructed to insist on the screening question about headache history to avoid missing participants with a potential for recurrent severe headaches during their lifetime and particularly during their young adulthood.29 Secondly, participants who reported a history of severe headaches were asked to take part in a telephone interview with a neurologist specialised in headaches using a structured questionnaire.30 This questionnaire has been shown to have good inter-rater agreement (κ=0.83)31 and included information on duration of headaches; lifetime frequency of episodes; intensity of the pain; characteristics and location of the pain; association of the pain with physical activity; associated features, such as sensitivity to sound and light as well as nausea; and information about aura features. A total of 242 participants were eligible for the interview. Of those, four died before the interview, four were unreachable or opted not to participate, and one had severe hearing impairment, leaving 233 participants who were interviewed. Information on detailed lifetime history of headache, specific migraine features, and aura symptoms were ascertained during the interview.

The collected information allowed classification of headache based on the second revision of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.32 We classified patients who reported a history of severe headache as having migraine if the headache and associated features fulfilled all or all but one of the classification criteria for migraine without aura.32 In addition, we classified patients with migraine according to migraine aura status. Participants with a history of headache not fulfilling the criteria for migraine were classified as having non-migraine headache, a group of patients likely to have tension-type headache because other headache types are rare in the general population.33

Magnetic resonance imaging examination

At the second follow-up visit (at the same time as ascertainment of headache), 845 participants (88% participation rate) underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging, as described in detail elsewhere.17 Participants had similar baseline characteristics to those who did not participate.17 The distribution of headache status was also similar between the two groups (P=0.38).

Brain scanning was carried out with a 1.0 tesla scanner (Magnetom Expert; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany), with the orbitomeatal line as reference. Firstly, we acquired a high resolution T1 weighted brain volume using a three dimensional inversion recovery spoiled gradient echo sequence (repetition time 97 ms, echo time 4 ms, inversion time 300 ms, sagittal acquisition). The volume matrix was 128×256×256, slice thickness 1.4 mm, and pixel size 0.9×0.9 mm2. We obtained T2 weighted and proton density weighted brain images using a two dimensional axial turbo spin echo sequence (repetition time 3500 ms, first echo time 15 ms, second echo time 85 ms) with 26 slices (each 5 mm thick). The acquisition matrix was 256×256 over a 23 cm transversal field of view and the pixel size was 0.9×0.9 mm2.

Image processing and categorisation of white matter hyperintensities

We analysed brain scans using previously validated automated imaging processing.34 Briefly, we used a three step process: preprocessing, including registration, removal of non-brain tissue, and correction for bias field; detection of white matter hyperintensities on T2 weighted images, including removal of false positives; and post-processing, including the generation of probability maps for white matter hyperintensities and details. For each detected lesion we computed the localisation and volume. When the distance of the detected white matter hyperintensities to the ventricular system was less than 10 mm, we labelled the location of the lesions as periventricular, otherwise we labelled the lesions as deep white matter hyperintensities. The algorithm correlated well with a semiquantitative visual rating carried out by a neuroradiologist (quadratic trend with Scheltens scale P<0.001).34

We log transformed the measures for volume of white matter hyperintensities as they were not normally distributed. Next, we standardised the volume of white matter hyperintensities to the total volume of white matter. Standardisation with total intracranial volume yielded similar results. Finally, we a priori categorised all measures for volume of white matter hyperintensities into tertiles to allow for non-linear patterns of association.

Assessment of infarct lesions

One neurologist with training in neuroradiology (YCZ), who was blinded to the headache status and any other clinical data of participants, used a standardised assessment grid to visually review all the brain scans. The characteristics of lesions were visualised simultaneously in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. A brain infarct was defined as focal lesions of 3 mm or more with the same signal characteristics as cerebrospinal fluid on both T1 and T2 weighted sequences, and these were discriminated from dilated vascular space (Virchow-Robin space) according to their shapes and locations. We applied this definition to all lesions irrespective of location. An endpoint committee (YCZ, HC, CT, and TK) reviewed and classified doubtful lesions after consensus. For this analysis, we distinguished between infarcts in the cerebellum or brain stem and in other locations.

Assessment of cognitive function

The Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study collected extensive data on cognitive performance,27 using the mini-mental state examination, Wechsler adult intelligence scale-revised, trail making test part A and B, Rey 15 item memory test, Raven progressive matrices, Benton visual retention test, Benton facial recognition test, and word fluency test. All tests were done by trained psychologists and we used data ascertained at the second follow-up visit. As all tests gave a similar association pattern and the mini-mental state examination is the most widely used test of global cognitive function, we report findings from the mini-mental state examination only.35 This test includes simple questions in several domains, such as time and location, repeating lists of words, arithmetic (for example, serial sevens), language use and comprehension, and basic motor skills.

Statistical analysis

Of the 845 participants with brain scans, we excluded 20 for technical reasons, eight because of cerebral anomalies, 28 with image contrast precluding the application of the algorithm for measuring volume of white matter hyperintensities, and nine with missing information on headache history, leaving 780 participants for this study. Eleven participants had missing information for the mini-mental state examination and were excluded from that part of the analysis.

We compared the means of continuous characteristics and frequency of categorical characteristics of participants according to their headache status. We used multinominal logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the association between headache status and thirds for volume of white matter hyperintensities using participants who did not report a history of severe headache and who were in the lowest third for volume of white matter hyperintensities as the reference group. Multinomial logistic regression is an extension of binary logistic regression that allows the outcome variable to have more than two categories. Calculated odds ratios have two reference categories, one for the exposure (headache status) and one for the outcome (thirds for volume of white matter hyperintensities) categories.

We run age adjusted and multivariable adjusted models for total and localised white matter hyperintensities. The multivariable models controlled for age (continuous), sex, history of hypertension (yes, no), smoking (ever, never), body mass index (<25, 25 to 29, ≥30 weight (kg)/(height (m)2), alcohol consumption (0, 1-19, 20-39, ≥40 g/day), serum total cholesterol level (continuous), and family history of severe headache (yes, no). Results remained essentially unchanged when the models were additionally controlled for a history of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and history of vascular disease. We calculated P for trend across mean values of the categories for volume third by using a logistic regression model contrasting a specific headache type to participants without a history of headache.

Because the volumes of localised and total white matter hyperintensities are correlated, we used the residual method36 to evaluate the association between headache types and volume of localised white matter hyperintensities—that is, deep or periventricular—above and beyond the association with the total volume.

In exploratory analyses we stratified the association between headache status and volume of white matter hyperintensities (highest third v lowest two thirds) by age (<70, ≥70 years), sex, history of hypertension, smoking (ever v never), family history of severe headache, and history of cardiovascular disease, adjusting for age. We further evaluated whether the association between migraine and volume of white matter hyperintensities was modified by full classification criteria for migraine.32 We evaluated statistically significant effect modification by including interaction terms in the models.

We used an age adjusted logistic regression model to calculate odds ratio of infarcts according to headache status. We did not aim to adjust for additional potential confounders because of the relatively low number of infarcts in subgroups. When we ran such models, however, the effect estimates were not meaningfully different.

We used general linear models, adjusting for age, sex, and education, to evaluate the association of the mini-mental state examination according to headache type with and without structural brain lesions. Evaluation of the results for performance of other cognitive tests showed a similar association pattern (data not shown). All analyses were done using SAS version 9.1; P values were two tailed and we considered P<0.05 to be statistically significant.

Results

Of the 780 participants with complete information on headaches and brain scans, 163 (20.9%) reported a history of severe headache. Of the 116 participants with migraine, 17 (14.7%) reported aura symptoms. Table 1 summarises the association between personal characteristics and headache status. Participants with migraine were more likely to be female, to be never smokers, and to be less likely to drink alcohol when compared with participants who did not report a history of headaches. Both migraine and non-migraine headache groups were more likely to have a positive family history of severe headaches.

Table 1

 Association of headache status with personal characteristics and volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study (n=780). Values are numbers (percentages) unless stated otherwise

Variable	No history of severe headache (n=617)	Migraine headache (n=116)	Non-migraine headache (n=47)
Mean (SD) age (years)	68.8 (2.9)	68.9 (2.8)	69.5 (3.1)
Women	331 (53.6)	99 (85.3)	26 (55.3)
Mean (SD) systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)	135.1 (19.6)	131.7 (20.5)	137.2 (21.7)
Mean (SD) cholesterol level (mmol/L)	6.1 (1.0)	6.3 (1.0)	6.1 (0.7)
Mean (SD) low density lipoprotein cholesterol level (mmol/L)	3.8 (0.9)	4.0 (0.9)	3.8 (0.8)
Mean (SD) triglyceride level (mmol/L)	1.3 (0.6)	1.3 (0.6)	1.4 (0.7)
Mean (SD) glucose level (mmol/L)	5.5 (1.1)	5.3 (1.2)	5.5 (0.7)
Body mass index:
<25	271 (44.4)	48 (42.5)	18 (39.1)
25-29.9	255 (41.7)	55 (48.7)	19 (41.3)
≥30	85 (13.9)	10 (8.8)	9 (19.6)
Ever smoker	277 (44.9)	33 (28.4)	21 (44.7)
Alcohol intake (g/day):
0	162 (26.3)	53 (45.7)	13 (27.7)
1-19	270 (43.8)	43 (37.1)	22 (46.8)
20-39	112 (18.2)	16 (13.8)	6 (12.8)
≥40	73 (11.8)	4 (3.4)	6 (12.8)
History of hypertension	215 (34.8)	51 (44.0)	18 (38.3)
Family history of severe headache	154 (25.0)	49 (42.2)	21 (44.7)
History of cardiovascular disease	44 (7.1)	7 (6.0)	5 (10.6)
Median (interquartile range) total WMH volume (cm2)	3.3 (2.2-5.0)	3.5 (2.4-6.0)	3.8 (2.9-6.8)
Median (interquartile range) deep WMH volume (cm2)	0.8 (0.5-1.4)	1.0 (0.6-1.6)	1.1 (0.7-1.6)
Median (interquartile range) periventricular WMH volume (cm2)	2.3 (1.5-3.8)	2.7 (1.4-4.6)	2.6 (1.9-5.0)

Percentages may not add up to 100% owing to rounding or missing values.

When the association between any history of headaches and volume of white matter hyperintensities was evaluated, stronger associations were found with increasing volume. For participants with any history of severe headache, the multivariable adjusted odds ratio of being in the highest volume third for total white matter hyperintensities was 2.0 (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 3.1, P for trend 0.002) compared with participants who were in the lowest third and who did not have a headache history. Similar associations were found for volume of deep white matter hyperintensities (2.0, 1.3 to 3.1, P for trend 0.002) and for volume of periventricular white matter hyperintensities (1.9, 1.2 to 3.0, P for trend 0.004).

When a distinction was made between migraine and non-migraine headache, the risk increased for both headache types, with higher estimates for the group with non-migraine headaches (table 2).

Table 2

 Association between headache history and volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study (n=780)

WMH volume by thirds	No history of severe headache (n=617)	Migraine headache (n=116)				Non-migraine headache (n=47)
	No (%)	No (%)	Age adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)	Multiple adjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)		No (%)	Age adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)	Multiple adjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)
Total:
Lowest third	215 (34.8)	35 (30.2)	1.0	1.0		10 (21.3)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	211 (34.2)	34 (29.3)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.6)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.6)		15 (31.9)	1.5 (0.7 to 3.5)	1.6 (0.7 to 3.6)
Highest third	191 (31.0)	47 (40.5)	1.5 (0.9 to 2.4)	1.8 (1.0 to 2.9)		22 (46.8)	2.4 (1.1 to 5.2)	2.7 (1.2 to 5.9)
P for trend†	—	—	0.07	0.03		—	0.03	0.01
Deep:
Lowest third	213 (34.5)	34 (29.3)	1.0	1.0		13 (27.7)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	214 (34.7)	34 (29.3)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.7)	1.1 (0.7 to 2.0)		12 (25.5)	1.0 (0.4 to 2.2)	1.0 (0.4 to 2.2)
Highest third	190 (30.8)	48 (41.4)	1.6 (1.0 to 2.6)	1.9 (1.1 to 3.2)		22 (46.8)	2.0 (1.0 to 4.0)	2.1 (1.0 to 4.4)
P for trend†	—	—	0.04	0.01		—	0.04	0.03
Periventricular:
Lowest third	215 (34.8)	36 (31.0)	1.0	1.0		9 (19.1)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	210 (34.0)	33 (28.4)	0.9 (0.6 to 1.6)	0.9 (0.5 to 1.5)		17 (36.2)	1.9 (0.8 to 4.3)	2.0 (0.9 to 4.7)
Highest third	192 (31.1)	47 (40.5)	1.5 (0.9 to 2.4)	1.6 (1.0 to 2.7)		21 (44.7)	2.5 (1.1 to 5.6)	2.9 (1.3 to 6.5)
P for trend†	—	—	0.09	0.04		—	0.03	0.01

Odds ratios are calculated by using a multinomial logistic regression model with participants who had no history of severe headache and who were in lowest third for WMH volume as reference group. WMH volume was standardised to total white matter volume. Percentages may not add up to 100% owing to rounding.

*Adjusted for age, sex, history of hypertension, smoking, body mass index, total cholesterol level, alcohol consumption, and family history of severe headache.

†P for trend across mean values of the WMH thirds calculated by using a logistic regression model contrasting a specific headache group to participants without history of severe headache.

Table 3 summarises the association between migraine and volume of white matter hyperintensities by migraine aura status. Although the association pattern of migraine without aura and volume of white matter hyperintensities was of the same magnitude as those for overall headache, stronger associations were found between migraine with aura and lesions located in the deep white matter (12.4, 1.6 to 99.4 for the highest third, P for trend 0.005). This association remained significant when the correlation between volume of localised and total white matter hyperintensities was taken into account (5.8, 1.2 to 27.8, P for trend 0.02).

Table 3

 Association between headache and volume of WMH volume in Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study (n=780)

WMH volume by third	No history of severe headache (n=617)	Migraine with aura (n=17)				Migraine without aura (n=99)
	No (%)	No (%)	Age adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)	Multiple adjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)		No (%)	Age adjusted odds ratio (95% CI)	Multiple adjusted* odds ratio (95% CI)
Total (n=260):
Lowest third	215 (34.8)	4 (23.5)	1.0	1.0		31 (31.3)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	211 (34.2)	5 (29.4)	1.3 (0.3 to 4.8)	1.2 (0.3 to 4.6)		29 (29.3)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.6)	0.9 (0.5 to 1.6)
Highest third	191 (31.0)	8 (47.1)	2.3 (0.7 to 7.8)	2.7 (0.8 to 9.3)		39 (39.4)	1.4 (0.8 to 2.4)	1.6 (0.9 to 2.8)
P for trend†	—	—	0.16	0.07		—	0.15	0.08
Deep (n=260):
Lowest third	213 (34.5)	1 (5.9)	1.0	1.0		33 (33.3)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	214 (34.7)	6 (35.3)	6.0 (0.7 to 50.0)	6.2 (0.7 to 52.5)		28 (28.3)	0.8 (0.5 to 1.5)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.7)
Highest third	190 (30.8)	10 (58.8)	11.2 (1.4 to 88.3)	12.4 (1.6 to 99.4)		38 (38.4)	1.3 (0.8 to 2.1)	1.6 (0.9 to 2.7)
P for trend†	—	—	0.008	0.005		—	0.24	0.11
Periventricular (n=260):
Lowest third	215 (34.8)	5 (29.4)	1.0	1.0		31 (31.3)	1.0	1.0
Middle third	210 (34.0)	4 (23.5)	0.8 (0.2 to 3.1)	0.8 (0.2 to 3.1)		29 (29.3)	1.0 (0.6 to 1.6)	0.9 (0.5 to 1.6)
Highest third	192 (31.1)	8 (47.1)	1.8 (0.6 to 5.7)	2.1 (0.7 to 6.8)		39 (39.4)	1.4 (0.8 to 2.3)	1.6 (0.9 to 2.7)
P for trend†	—	—	0.24	0.12		—	0.16	0.10

Odds ratios are calculated by using a multinomial logistic regression model predicting WMH categories with participants who had no history of severe headache and who were in the lowest third for WMH volume as reference group. WMH volume was standardised to total white matter volume. Percentages may not add up to 100% owing to rounding.

*Adjusted for age, sex, history of hypertension, smoking, body mass index, total cholesterol level, alcohol consumption, and family history of severe headache. The multinomial model also includes participants with non-migraine headache (n=47); see table 2 for detailed numbers.

†P for trend across mean values of thirds for WMH volume calculated by using a logistic regression model contrasting specific headache group to participants without history of severe headache.

We evaluated whether the association between headache status and increased total volume of white matter hyperintensities (highest third v lowest two thirds) was modified by age, sex, history of hypertension, smoking status, family history of severe headache, history of cardiovascular disease, or classification criteria for headache status. A significant interaction of the association between non-migraine headache and total volume of white matter hyperintensities was found by age only (P for interaction 0.03), indicating a significant association among participants aged 70 and older (3.4, 1.5 to 8.0).

A total of 110 (14.1%) participants had at least one brain infarct and 28 had more than one (table 4). Compared with participants without a history of severe headache, those with a history of overall migraine or non-migraine headache had no increased risk of a brain infarct. Only participants who had migraine with aura had over a threefold increased risk (3.4, 1.2 to 9.3). Furthermore, there was a suggestion that participants who had migraine with aura were at increased risk of multiple infarcts (3.7, 0.8 to 17.3). Most infarcts were located outside of the cerebellum or brain stem (3.5, 1.2 to 10.2).

Table 4

 Frequency of infarcts according to location and headache status in Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study (n=780). Values are numbers (percentages)

Location	No of participants affected	No history of severe headache (n=617)	Non-migraine headache (n=47)	Any migraine (n=116)	Migraine with aura (n=17)	Migraine without aura (n=99)
Cortex	11	9 (1.5)	1 (2.1)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1.0)
Subcortex	42	34 (5.5)	1 (2.1)	7 (6.0)	2 (11.8)	5 (5.1)
Nucleus lentiformis	32	26 (4.2)	0 (0)	6 (5.2)	2 (11.8)	4 (4.0)
Nucleus caudatus	20	17 (2.8)	1 (2.1)	2 (1.7)	1 (5.9)	1 (1.0)
Thalamus	14	11 (1.8)	1 (2.1)	2 (1.7)	2 (11.8)	0 (0)
Internal capsule	5	5 (0.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Brain stem	8	7 (1.1)	0 (0)	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	1 (1.0)
Cerebellum	19	17 (2.8)	0 (0)	2 (1.7)	1 (5.9)	1 (1.0)
Multiple infarcts	28	23 (3.7)	1 (2.1)	4 (3.4)	2 (11.8)	2 (2.0)

Mini-mental state examination scores were available for a total of 769 participants, with scores ranging from 17 to 30 (mean 27.6 (SD) 2.1). Mean scores adjusted for age, sex, and education did not differ according to headache status (P=0.17). Results were similar when median values were compared (data not shown). The mean score was highest among participants who had migraine with aura (score 28.4). Evidence was lacking that cognitive function was impaired for participants with migraine or non-migraine headache according to structural brain lesions (table 5). Evidence was also lacking for cognitive impairment according to brain lesions in participants who had migraine with aura (data not shown).

Table 5

 Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores according to headache status and structural brain lesions in Epidemiology of Vascular Ageing study (n=769) adjusted for age, sex, and education

WMH volume by thirds	No history of severe headache (n=608)		Migraine headache (n=116)		Non-migraine headache (n=45)
	No (%)	Mean (SE) MMSE	No (%)	Mean (SE) MMSE	No (%)	Mean (SE) MMSE
Total:
Lowest third (n=259)	214 (35.2)	27.5 (0.1)	35 (30.2)	27.6 (0.4)	10 (22.2)	28.6 (0.5)
Middle third (n=258)	210 (34.5)	27.6 (0.1)	34 (29.3)	27.5 (0.4)	14 (31.1)	27.8 (0.5)
Highest third (n=252)	184 (30.3)	27.5 (0.2)	47 (40.5)	27.9 (0.3)	21 (46.7)	27.8 (0.4)
P value		0.68		0.71		0.42
Deep:
Lowest third (n=259)	212 (34.9)	27.6 (0.1)	34 (29.3)	27.2 (0.4)	13 (28.9)	27.9 (0.5)
Middle third (n=258)	212 (34.9)	27.5 (0.1)	34 (29.3)	27.7 (0.4)	12 (26.7)	28.4 (0.6)
Highest third (n=252)	184 (30.3)	27.5 (0.2)	48 (41.4)	28.1 (0.3)	20 (44.4)	27.8 (0.4)
P value		0.86		0.19		0.63
Periventricular:
Lowest third (n=259)	213 (35.0)	27.4 (0.1)	36 (31.0)	27.7 (0.4)	9 (20.0)	28.7 (0.7)
Middle third (n=257)	208 (34.2)	27.7 (0.1)	33 (28.4)	27.6 (0.4)	16 (35.6)	27.9 (0.4)
Highest third (n=254)	187 (30.8)	27.5 (0.2)	47 (40.5)	27.8 (0.3)	20 (44.4)	27.7 (0.4)
P value		0.44		0.94		0.53
No infarction (n=660)	519 (85.4)	27.6 (0.1)	99 (85.3)	27.7 (0.2)	42 (93.3)	28.0 (0.2)
Any infarct lesion (n=109)	89 (14.6)	27.2 (0.2)	17 (14.7)	27.9 (0.5)	3 (6.7)	27.6 (1.0)
P value		0.17		0.69		0.72
Overall mean (SE)		27.5 (0.1)		27.7 (0.2)		28.1 (0.3)

WMH=white matter hyperintensities; MRI=magnetic resonance imaging. Percentages may not add to 100% owing to rounding.

Discussion

In this large, cross sectional population based sample of older participants (mean age 69) we found that any lifetime history of severe headaches was associated with an increased risk of higher volumes of total, deep, and periventricular white matter hyperintensity. The pattern of association was similar for both migraine and non-migraine headache types. Conversely, evidence was lacking that a history of severe headache in general was associated with brain infarcts, although such an association was found for the small group of participants who had migraine with aura. Finally, we found no evidence that overall headache or specific headache type by itself or in combination with structural brain lesions results in cognitive impairment.

Strengths and weaknesses of the study

Our study has several strengths, including the large number of participants drawn independently according to headache status from the general population, classification of headache status through a structured and standardised telephone interview carried out by neurologists who were specialised in headache disorders, utilisation of validated automated image processing34 to classify volume of white matter hyperintensities, and the large amount of available information allowing for the control of potential confounding factors.

Several limitations should also be considered. Firstly, despite the large study size, the subgroups comprised a relatively small number of participants, which should particularly caution the interpretation of the results for migraine with aura (n=17). Secondly, our study was cross sectional, which does not necessarily allow evaluation of the direction of association. However, most of the participants with headache reported first onset in young age, when structural brain lesions are rare. Thirdly, not all participants took part in the brain imaging substudy, which could potentially result in selection bias. However, the measured characteristics,17 and particularly the distribution of headache history, did not differ among participants and non-participants (P=0.38). Fourthly, although headache status was ascertained by a detailed interview with a headache specialist, information on headaches may not have been recalled adequately in this older population. As white matter hyperintensities have been associated with increased risk of dementia,14 a differential bias is possible. Such a bias would, however, have underestimated the association between headache status and white matter hyperintensities. Furthermore, our initial screening question for headache asked for “severe” headache to identify patients with considerable headache burden, which may not allow all people who have headaches to be captured. However, such a screening tool is often used in population based headache research.22 37 Fifthly, despite adjustment for a large number of potential confounders, residual and unmeasurable confounding is possible because our study was observational. Sixthly, our data were collected some time ago. Although the associations between migraine and structural brain lesions or function are unlikely to have changed, newer imaging techniques are available, which may lead to more precise detection of lesions. Lastly, the participants were of higher socioeconomic status and somewhat healthier than their peer group,27 which may limit generalisability to other populations.

Comparisons with previous studies

Our findings extend our knowledge of the association between headache and white matter hyperintensities to non-migraine headache, which is likely to be tension-type headache, and to older people. Previous population based studies could only evaluate the association between migraine and white matter hyperintensities, showing increased risk.20 38 39 In a meta-analysis of case-control studies, migraine was associated with a fourfold increased risk (odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 2.26 to 6.72) of white matter abnormalities.23 For tension-type headache, our data confirm results from a previous small case-control study of 63 patients with chronic primary headache and 54 controls free of headache.26 This imaging study found that the prevalence of white matter abnormalities was similar for tension-type and migraine headaches (32.1% and 34.3%) and both were increased compared with controls (7.4%).

Our results of a strong association between migraine with aura and deep white matter hyperintensities extend the findings of the Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiological Risk Analysis (CAMERA) study.22 In this population based sample of men and women aged 20 to 60 years from the Netherlands, overall migraine was associated with an increased load of deep white matter hyperintensities among women but did not differ according to migraine aura status. The association was stronger with higher frequency of migraines, information that was not available in our study.

The CAMERA study further showed an association between migraine with aura and infarct-like lesions mainly located in the cerebellum and brain stem (odds ratio 13.7, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 112).10 22 This finding is supported by a population based study from Iceland, which found that women with migraine in mid-life had an increased risk of cerebellar infarct-like lesions in later life.11 Although our data also support an association between migraine with aura and brain infarcts, most of these lesions were located outside the cerebellum or brain stem.

Our data do not indicate an association between overall or specific headache types and impaired cognitive function regardless of the presence of structural brain lesions. While data suggest an association between white matter hyperintensities and cognitive impairment,14 recent findings do not support an association between cognitive impairment and migraine in older people.40

Potential biological mechanisms

The mechanisms linking headache in general with white matter hyperintensities are unclear. White matter hyperintensities are believed to consist of gliosis and local loss of myelin resulting from microvascular damage. In patients with migraine, a haemodynamic ischaemic process41 and mitochondrial dysfunction42 have been hypothesised, but neuropathological investigations are lacking.43 Rarely, white matter hyperintensities among patients who have migraine with aura can be related to a genetically determined small vessel disease.44

A potential explanation for the association between migraine with aura and brain infarcts involves links between migraine and the endovascular system,45 46 shared genetic or vascular risk factors,47 48 or a potential association with patent foramen ovale.49 50

Implications for clinical practice

Our data confirm the association of migraine with white matter hyperintensities. They suggest, however, that this association is not specific to migraine headaches but extends to non-migraine headaches, most likely tension-type headaches. In addition, our data provide evidence that, irrespective of the underlying headache type, the existence of brain lesions among people who have headaches does not result in cognitive impairment. As the association between headache and brain infarcts is limited to the small subgroup of patients who have migraine with aura, our data do not support ordering brain imaging to rule out structural brain lesions for most people with primary headache disorders.

Future research

Although it does not seem to currently have any clinical relevance, the relation between migraine with aura, white matter hyperintensities, and brain infarcts deserves further investigation. Silent brain infarcts seem to have the same risk factors and mechanisms as clinical stroke but they are many times more common and therefore easier to study. As white matter hyperintensities have been linked with increased risk of stroke,16 51 a better understanding of the relation between migraine with aura and structural brain lesions could give further insights into whether this association is limited to specific subgroups and whether preventive strategies should be tested.

In several case-control and population based studies, migraine has been associated with an increased prevalence of white matter hyperintensities

Migraine with aura has been associated with clinical and subclinical brain infarction

Any history of severe headache, not just migraine, is associated with white matter hyperintensities

Associations between migraine and brain infarcts is limited to people who have migraine with aura

Evidence that migraine or other severe headache by itself or in combination with white matter hyperintensities is associated with cognitive impairment is lacking