MRI Evaluation of the Relationship Between Abnormalities in Vision-Related Brain Networks and Quality of Life in Patients with Migraine without Aura

Abstract

Objective To evaluate whether migraine without aura (MwoA) can be partly attributed to abnormalities of vision-related brain networks (VBN) and whether these specific regional abnormalities affect the patients’ quality of life (QoL). Methods A total of 40 participants, including 20 MwoA patients and 20 healthy control volunteers, were enrolled. There were no significant differences in sex, age, educational qualifications and dominant hand between the two groups. Headache intensity and QoL were assessed by the Pain Number Evaluation Scale (NRS) and the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ 2.1), respectively. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and independent component analysis (ICA) were performed to determine and evaluate the VBN. Results Three components were identified as consistent with the VBN in the template and recorded as N1, N2 and N3, respectively. The functional activity of the left primary visual cortex (N1), left culmen of cerebellum (N1), left lingual gyrus (N2), superior frontal gyrus (N2) and left posterior lateral prefrontal cortex (N3) in the MwoA group enhanced compared with the healthy control group. However, the functional activity of right middle occipital gyrus, left fusiform gyrus, right lingual gyrus, and right primary motor cortex in the N3 network weakened. Pearson correlation analysis showed that decline of attention to work and life (MSQ5) was positively associated with the functional activity of left primary visual cortex and left lingual gyrus. Canceling from work and daily life (MSQ8) was inversely associated with the functional activity of right primary motor cortex. The burden of feeling like others (MSQ13) and the overall decrease in QoL were both positively associated with the functional activity of right lingual gyrus. Conclusion MwoA patients showed abnormal VBN function, which was moderately correlated with decreased QoL. This study provides evidence for the precise prevention and treatment of migraine by neural regulation.

The Patent Foramen Ovale and Migraine: Associated Mechanisms and Perspectives from MRI Evidence

“…On the one hand, the activation of the thalamus, brainstem, and related functional areas such as the cingulate gyrus, insular lobe, and temporal lobe can be observed under task stimulation, indicating that these areas are involved in the pathophysiological process of inducing migraine [ 57 , 58 , 59 ]. On the other hand, abnormal brain networks and functional connections can also be observed in the resting state, including the occipital lobe, the sensorimotor network, bilateral lateral and inferior cerebellum, the cingulo–opercular network, the default mode network, and the frontal–parietal network [ 62 , 63 ]. In recent years, research on the small-world network of migraine patients and the study of dynamic functional connectome patterns both support the idea that the thalamus, occipital lobe, and basal nucleus play a vital role in the process of relaying pain, regulating vision, and integrating pain [ 66 , 67 ].…”

Altered functional brain network patterns in patients with migraine without aura after transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

“…The results revealed that migraineurs exhibited abnormalities in brain areas related to pain, including pain perception areas (e.g., cerebellum and brainstem) and nociceptive inhibition regions (e.g., periaqueductal gray) 8 – 11 . Meanwhile, migraineurs exhibited abnormalities in sensory-related areas, such as the fusiform gyrus (FFG) and insula 12 – 15 . Furthermore, other researches also reported unnormal brain regions relating to executive ability and attention in migraineurs, such as the paracentral lobule (PCL) and orbitofrontal gyrus (OFG) 16 – 19 .…”