Age-related differences in resting state functional connectivity in pediatric migraine

Abstract

Background Migraine affects roughly 10% of youth aged 5–15 years, however the underlying mechanisms of migraine in youth are poorly understood. Multiple structural and functional alterations have been shown in the brains of adult migraine sufferers. This study aims to investigate the effects of migraine on resting-state functional connectivity during the period of transition from childhood to adolescence, a critical period of brain development and the time when rates of pediatric chronic pain spikes. Methods Using independent component analysis, we compared resting state network spatial maps and power spectra between youth with migraine aged 7–15 and age-matched controls. Statistical comparisons were conducted using a MANCOVA analysis. Results We show (1) group by age interaction effects on connectivity in the visual and salience networks, group by sex interaction effects on connectivity in the default mode network and group by pubertal status interaction effects on connectivity in visual and frontal parietal networks, and (2) relationships between connectivity in the visual networks and the migraine cycle, and age by cycle interaction effects on connectivity in the visual, default mode and sensorimotor networks. Conclusions We demonstrate that brain alterations begin early in youth with migraine and are modulated by development. This highlights the need for further study into the neural mechanisms of migraine in youth specifically, to aid in the development of more effective treatments.

Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Chronic Migraine and High Frequency Episodic Migraine in Adolescents: A Pilot Single-Arm Open-Label Study

“…Previous studies showed that pharmacological prophylaxis has little or no efficacy in the pediatric population of patients with migraine [15][16][17], and that future research should identify non-pharmacological approaches [17]. Addressing migraine early in this population is of importance in consideration of the fact that brain alterations begin early in youth with migraine, as showed in neuroimaging studies [44,45]. The result of our openlabel trial supports the hypothesis that a combined approach that includes patient education and mindfulness-based programs can be very useful in populations of adolescents [20] and represent a valid alternative to pharmacological prophylaxis.…”

Resting State Functional Connectivity between Dorsal Attentional Network and Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Concussed and Control Adolescents

“…While the DAN-RIFG connectivity did not differ from zero in both concussed adolescents with and without such a history, there was a trend toward a negative association between these regions in concussed adolescents with a history of migraines. Prior resting state studies demonstrated that adolescents who experience migraines have significantly altered patterns of connectivity when compared to controls as well as younger children [38] and adults [39] suffering from migraines. Importantly, functional connectivity in adolescents with migraines is dependent on age and time between the last migraine attack and scan [38].…”

“…Prior resting state studies demonstrated that adolescents who experience migraines have significantly altered patterns of connectivity when compared to controls as well as younger children [38] and adults [39] suffering from migraines. Importantly, functional connectivity in adolescents with migraines is dependent on age and time between the last migraine attack and scan [38]. Considering that symptoms of a migraine may overlap with those experienced during the earlier stages of concussion (e.g., headaches, dizziness, fogginess, nausea), this find-ing might indicate that adolescents with migraines are more vulnerable to DAN-RIFG connectivity disruption due to concussion than adolescents without premorbid migraines.…”