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Migraine and cognitive function

A life-course study

From the Department of Psychology (Drs. Waldie and Hausmann), University of Auckland; and Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit (Dr. Poulton and B.J. Milne), Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Karen E. Waldie, Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92101 Auckland, New Zealand; e-mail: k.waldie{at}auckland.ac.nz

Objective: To investigate the association between migraine and cognitive ability among members of a longitudinal birth cohort study.

Methods: Headache status was determined at age 26 (migraine, tension-type headache [TTH], headache-free control subjects) according to International Headache Society criteria, and data relating to cognitive and academic performance from ages 3 to 26 years were analyzed.

Results: Study members diagnosed with migraine were subtly but significantly impaired, compared with those with TTH and headache-free control subjects, on tests of verbal ability (especially language reception) from ages 3 to 13, independent of headache history. Performance on other tasks, including reading, arithmetic, motor, and spatial ability, was normal. The association between migraine and verbal functioning also appeared to impact on later academic success.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that the poorer verbal performance was unlikely to have resulted from cumulative attacks and may be due to developmental factors beginning in utero.

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