Migraine Linked to Faster Brain Aging, Study Finds
Islamabad (Kudrat News) A new scientific study has suggested that migraines may accelerate brain aging and cause long-term changes in brain structure.
The findings were published in the journal Brain Communications, where researchers reported that individuals suffering from migraines show signs of faster brain aging compared to those without the condition.
Migraines affect an estimated 20 percent of the global population and are known to severely disrupt daily life. Currently, there is no definitive cure for the condition.
Previous research had already indicated a possible link between migraines and cognitive decline. However, the latest study specifically examined how migraines influence the brain’s biological age compared to a person’s actual chronological age.
Researchers explained that the gap between brain age and physical age can increase the risk of dementia and long-term neurodegenerative disorders.
The study analyzed 110 migraine patients and 70 healthy individuals. All participants underwent MRI scans, and more than 400 brain regions were examined using a computer-based model to estimate brain age.
Results showed that migraine sufferers had, on average, a 4.24-year difference between their brain age and actual age, a difference not observed in the control group.
The effect was more pronounced in patients suffering from chronic migraines—defined as headaches occurring 15 or more days per month.
Further analysis of 442 brain regions identified accelerated aging in 66 areas, including regions responsible for pain processing, emotional regulation, and cognitive functions.
Researchers noted that the study has limitations and does not conclusively prove that migraines directly cause brain aging. However, they emphasized that repeated migraine attacks can trigger neurological changes, affecting sleep, stress levels, inflammation, and overall brain function.
They added that long-term migraine sufferers may experience cumulative effects on brain health, making the observed acceleration in brain aging biologically plausible.
