Migraine in The Elderly: A Review

The Role of the Combination Paracetamol/Caffeine in Treatment of Acute Migraine Pain: A Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION

Thirty years ago, the first migraine-specific drugs (triptans) appeared. Today two new categories (gepants and ditans) are marketed for acute migraine treatment. That said, is there still a role for conventional therapy? The aim of the present narrative review is to provide an expert overview examining the possible role of the combination paracetamol/caffeine in treatment of acute migraine pain.

METHODS

To understand possible settings for more appropriate use of paracetamol/caffeine (1000 mg/130 mg) in treatment of acute migraine, a structured literature search was performed using the PubMed database by a panel of experts from major Italian headache centers; articles not referring to migraine pain were excluded from this review; review articles were prioritized.

RESULTS

Overall response, even to newer specific and selective trigeminal targeted drugs (TTTs), is not over 60%; thus, there is still room for conventional therapies in acute migraine treatment. The panel identified settings in which the use of paracetamol/caffeine combination to treat acute migraine attacks might offer benefit considering the consolidated use through years, despite the lack of studies directly addressing the efficacy of paracetamol/caffeine in the identified populations: subjects > 65 years of age; presence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities; TTTs non-responders; pregnancy and breastfeeding; subjects < 18 years of age; paracetamol/caffeine as add-on therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Paracetamol is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list and has a high level of popularity among patients. Caffeine enhances the analgesic effect of other drugs including paracetamol. In early treatment of acute migraine pain, prescribing physicians might consider using the paracetamol/caffeine combination among other options.

Anxiety and physical impairment in patients with central vestibular disorders

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence for close interrelations between vestibular and emotional brain networks. A study in patients with bilateral peripheral vestibulopathy (BVP) showed relatively low vertigo-related anxiety (VRA), despite high physical impairment. The current working hypothesis proposes the integrity of the peripheral vestibular system as a prerequisite for development of VRA. Here we contribute by evaluating VRA and vestibular-related handicap in central vestibular disorders.

METHODS

Of 6396 patients presenting in a tertiary vertigo centre, 306 were identified with four clear central vestibular disorders: pure cerebellar ocular motor disorder (COD; 61), cerebellar ataxia (CA; 63), atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS; 28), vestibular migraine (VM; 154). Their results of the Vertigo Handicap Questionnaire (VHQ), with its subscales for anxiety and handicapped activity, were compared to those of 65 BVP patients. Postural instability was measured on a force-plate. Multivariate linear regression was used to adjust for patient demographics.

RESULTS

Patients with chronic central vestibular disorders (COD, CA, APS) had relatively low VRA levels comparable to those in BVP, independent of increased handicapped activity or postural instability. Only VM patients showed significantly higher VRA, although their activity impairment and postural instability were lowest. No significant differences within chronic central vestibular disorders were found for VRA and subjective activity impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective and objective vestibular-related impairment are not necessarily correlated with vestibular-related anxiety in central vestibular disorders. Our findings rather support the hypothesis that, in addition to an intact peripheral, an intact central vestibular system could also serve as a prerequisite to develop specific VRA.

Ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block for the treatment of migraine in elderly patients: A retrospective and observational study

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) in the prophylactic treatment of migraine in the elderly.

BACKGROUND

Treatment of migraine in the elderly is often difficult and troublesome due to multiple comorbidities, drug interactions, and adverse effects (AEs). SGB may be an effective treatment approach for migraine in the elderly as its clinical use is rarely limited by concomitant diseases and age-related physiological changes; however, no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of SGB in the treatment of migraine in the elderly population.

METHODS

This is a retrospective observational case series study. We retrospectively analyzed patients with migraine aged ≥65 years, who underwent ultrasound-guided SGB for headache management between January 2018 and November 2022. Pain intensity using the numerical rating scale (NRS, 0-10), number of days with headache per month, duration of headache, and the consumptions of acute medications were recorded before SGB treatment, and at 1, 2, and 3 months after the last SGB. Safety assessment included thorough documentation of serious and minor AEs related to SGB.

RESULTS

Of 71 patients, 52 were analyzed in this study. After the final SGB, the NRS scores decreased significantly from a mean (± standard deviation [SD]) of 7.3 (1.2) at baseline to 3.3 (1.4), 3.1 (1.6), and 3.6 (1.6) at 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively (vs. baseline, p < 0.001). The mean (SD) number of headache days per month significantly reduced from 23.1 (5.5) to 10.9 (7.1) (p < 0.001), 12.7 (6.5) (p = 0.001), and 14.0 (6.8) days (p = 0.001) at the 1-, 2-, and 3-month follow-ups, respectively. The values of headache duration were also significantly lower at the 1-month (mean [SD] 12.5 [15.8] h, p = 0.001), 2-month (mean [SD] 11.3 [15.9] h, p = 0.001), and 3-month follow-ups (mean [SD] 14.3 [16.0] h, p = 0.001) compared to pre-treatment baseline (mean [SD] 22.7 [17.1] h). There were 33/52 (64%) patients experiencing at least a 50% reduction in acute medications consumption 3 months after the final SGB treatment. The overall AEs rate associated with ultrasound-guided SGB was 9.0% (26/290 SGBs). There were no serious AEs; all reported AEs were minor and transient.

CONCLUSIONS

Stellate ganglion block treatment could reduce pain intensity, headache frequency, and duration of migraine, thereby reducing the need for adjunctive medications in elderly patients. Ultrasound-guided SGB might be a safe and effective intervention for the treatment of migraine in elderly patients.

Preventive and Therapeutic Aspects of Migraine for Patient Care: An Insight

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a common neurological condition marked by frequent mild to extreme headaches that last 4 to 72 hours. A migraine headache may cause a pulsing or concentrated throbbing pain in one part of the brain. Nausea, vomiting, excessive sensitivity to light and sound, smell, feeling sick, vomiting, painful headache, and blurred vision are all symptoms of migraine disorder. Females are more affected by migraines in comparison to males.

OBJECTIVE

The present review article summarizes preventive and therapeutic measures, including allopathic and herbal remedies for the treatment of migraine.

RESULTS

This review highlights the current aspects of migraine pathophysiology and covers an understanding of the complex workings of the migraine state. Therapeutic agents that could provide an effective treatment have also been discussed.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that different migraines could be treated based on their type and severity.

Safety and tolerability of erenumab in individuals with episodic or chronic migraine across age groups: a pooled analysis of placebo-controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Erenumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor, has demonstrated efficacy and safety in the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine. There exists an unmet need to establish the safety of erenumab in older individuals, in view of existing multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy, and age-related physiological changes. This pooled analysis of five large migraine-prevention studies examined the safety of erenumab stratified across age groups, particularly in older populations.

METHODS

Pooled and age-stratified analysis of safety data from the 12-week double-blind treatment phase (DBTP) of five randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 2 and 3 studies of erenumab in participants with episodic or chronic migraine across the age groups < 40 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, and ≥ 60 years was completed. The safety of erenumab across age groups was determined by assessing safety endpoints including treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and events leading to study drug discontinuation.

RESULTS

Overall, 3345 participants across five studies were randomized to receive either placebo (n = 1359), erenumab 70 mg (n = 1132) or erenumab 140 mg (n = 854); 3176 (94.9%) completed the DBTP, and 169 (5.1%) discontinued, mainly due to participant decision (110; 3.3%). Overall, 1349 (40.6%), 1122 (33.8%), and 850 (25.6%) participants received at least one dose of placebo, erenumab 70 mg, and erenumab 140 mg, respectively. Incidence of treatment-emergent AEs was similar across all age groups for both doses of erenumab (70 mg or 140 mg) and placebo (< 40 years, 44.0% vs 44.4%; 40-49 years, 42.5% vs 49.2%; 50-59 years, 46.5% vs 41.6%; ≥ 60 years, 43.8% vs 59.4%). Incidence of treatment-emergent serious AEs overall, and stratified by age groups for both doses and placebo was low (< 40 years, 0.9% vs 1.2%; 40-49 years, 1.7% vs 1.9%; and 50-59 years, 1.6% vs 1.1%), with no serious AEs reported in participants aged ≥ 60 years. No deaths were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Erenumab (70 mg or 140 mg) exhibited a similar safety profile compared with placebo across age groups in individuals with episodic or chronic migraine, with no increased emergence of events due to age. Erenumab was well tolerated in older participants with multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy, and age-related physiological changes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02066415, NCT02456740, NCT02483585, NCT03096834, NCT03333109.

Artificial intelligence analysis to explore synchronize exercise, cobalamin, and magnesium as new actors to therapeutic of migraine symptoms: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is recognized as a complex neurological disorder that has imposed a social burden. We assessed the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms based on the in silico analysis and predicted drug candidates by the biomedicine approach. Moreover, we evaluated high-intensity interval training and vitamin B12 + magnesium on women's migraine attacks and inflammatory status.

METHODS

This study computed differential gene expression in migraine syndrome and the dimension network parameters visualized by software. Moreover, we proposed the functional mechanism and binding energy of essential micronutrients on macromolecules based on drug discovery. In this clinical trial, 60 cases were randomized to four groups, including applied high-intensity interval training (HIIT), cases consumed supplementation vitamin B12 and magnesium (Supp), cases applied high-intensity interval training, and consumed supplementation (HIIT + Supp), and migraine cases for 2 months. Serum levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. In addition, migraine disability assessment score (MIDAS), frequency, intensity, and duration were recorded before and during interventions.

RESULTS

In silico study revealed the association between inflammation signaling pathways and pathogenesis of migraine attacks as a remarkable pathomechanism in this disorder. Furthermore, serum concentrations of CGRP were significantly declined in the HIIT + Supp compared with other groups. In addition, MIDAS, frequency, intensity, and duration were reduced in the HIIT + Supp group compared with the other groups.

CONCLUSION

We found that the synergistic effects of cobalamin and magnesium followed by regular exercise could silence the inflammation signaling pathway, and a combination of HIIT + Supp could ameliorate migraine pain.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; IRCT code: IRCT20170510033909N12. Approval Data: 2021/06/02.

Characteristics and comorbidities of headache in patients over 50 years of age: a cross-sectional study

Background

Although headache is a common complaint in younger individuals, it is one of the most common complaints among persons over the age of 50 and is a significant cause of morbidity. As there are differences in the causes and types of headache, the diagnosis and management of headache in older adults differ from that in younger individuals.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 570 patients ≥ 50 years were recruited at a university affiliated tertiary headache center between 2016 and 2019. Demographic data, headache characteristics, and comorbid medical conditions were recorded. The presence of depression was explored using the Beck Depression Inventory. The patients were evaluated using the STOP-BANG scale to determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 57.7 years. Seventy-three percent of the patients had primary headache disorders, with the most prevalent types being migraine, followed by tension-type headache. Secondary headaches were primarily the result of overuse of medication, cervical spine disease, and hypertension. Patients with medication-overuse headache were significantly more likely to suffer from hypothyroidism and gastrointestinal problems such as bleeding/ulcers. Irritable bowel syndrome was also more common in patients with medication-overuse headaches and migraines. The risk for obstructive sleep apnea was intermediate in 45.2% of the patients with hypertension-induced headache, but was lower in the majority of others. There was a high tendency for moderate-to-severe depression in the participants; however, the Beck Depression Inventory scores were significantly higher in medication-overuse headache patients.

Conclusion

Proper treatment of headache in middle-aged and older adults requires the recognition of secondary causes, comorbid diseases, and drug induced or medication overuse headaches. Special attention should be paid to depression and obstructive sleep apnea in such patients suffering from headache disorders.

Episodic Migraine and Older Adults

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Migraine is and continues to be a significant medical issue in older adults. Migraine can have different characteristics in older adults and specific diagnostic and treatment considerations need to be applied when managing headache and migraine in this population, which is increasing in both size and diversity. Contrary to widely held beliefs, migraine may not improve in older women following menopause and can have new onset in older age. The purpose of this review is to give an update on the diagnosis and treatment of episodic migraine in older adults.

RECENT FINDINGS

As the population ages, migraine in older adults will become a more significant public health issue. Migraine in older adults can present with different clinical symptoms than in a younger population and is primarily a diagnosis of exclusion in older adults. Migraine treatment considerations for older adults should include comorbidities and medication interactions. Recent findings suggest there are medications that should be avoided when treating seniors with migraine. The purpose of this review is to give an update on the most important aspects regarding the diagnosis and treatment of headache and migraine in older adults. In addition, recommendations will be made concerning medications that need careful consideration when prescribing to seniors.

Efficacy and safety of fremanezumab in clinical trial participants aged ≥60 years with episodic or chronic migraine: pooled results from 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies

Background

Although migraine is less common in older people, preventive treatment of migraine in these individuals may be more challenging due to the presence of multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. Additionally, evidence for migraine treatment efficacy, safety, and tolerability is limited in this population. We evaluated efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fremanezumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2Δa) that selectively targets calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP), in clinical trial participants aged ≥60 years with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM).

Methods

This analysis included data from 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies: the HALO EM study, HALO CM study, and FOCUS study in participants with EM or CM and prior inadequate response to 2–4 migraine preventive medication classes. Participants in all studies were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 12 weeks of subcutaneous treatment with quarterly fremanezumab (Months 1/2/3: EM/CM, 675 mg/placebo/placebo), monthly fremanezumab (Months 1/2/3: EM, 225 mg/225 mg/225 mg; CM, 675 mg/225 mg/225 mg), or matched monthly placebo.

Results

These pooled analyses included 246 participants aged ≥60 years. Reductions in monthly migraine days from baseline over 12 weeks were significantly greater with fremanezumab (least-squares mean change from baseline [standard error]: quarterly fremanezumab, − 4.3 [0.59]; monthly fremanezumab, − 4.6 [0.54]) versus placebo (placebo, − 2.3 [0.57]; both P < 0.01 vs placebo). As early as Week 1, significant reductions from baseline in weekly migraine days were observed with fremanezumab versus placebo (both P < 0.01). With fremanezumab treatment versus placebo, a significantly higher proportion of participants achieved ≥50% reduction in monthly migraine days, and significant improvements in disability and quality-of-life outcomes were observed (P < 0.05). Proportions of participants experiencing serious adverse events and adverse events leading to discontinuation were low and similar in the fremanezumab and placebo groups. Efficacy and safety results were comparable to the overall pooled population (N = 2843).

Conclusions

This pooled subgroup analysis demonstrates that fremanezumab treatment is efficacious and well-tolerated over 12 weeks in participants aged ≥60 years with EM or CM. These data may help healthcare providers with clinical decision making and preventive treatment selection for older patients with migraine.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: HALO CM: NCT02621931; HALO EM: NCT02629861; FOCUS: NCT03308968.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-021-01351-2.

Prevalence and risk factors of migraine and non-migraine headache in older people - results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of migraine and non-migraine headache declines with age.

METHODS

Data from the third visit (2011-2015) of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study were analysed (n = 2038, 51% women, 65-86 years). Possible risk factors for headache activity (obesity, education, smoking, sports, alcohol, partnership status, living alone, having children, sleep quality, depression, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stroke, coronary heart disease, medication), and headache symptoms were assessed. We estimated the lifetime prevalence and the prevalence of current active headache of migraine with and without aura, and non-migraine headache. The associations between possible risk factors and headache activity (active vs. inactive) were estimated by age and sex-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR [95% CI]) using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence of migraine was 28.6% (n = 584). One hundred and ninety-two (9.4%) had still-active migraine, 168 (3.5%) had migraine with aura, and 416 (5.9%) had migraine without aura. One hundred and sixty-eight (8.2%) had "episodic infrequent migraine, 0-8 headache days/month", 10 (0.5%) had "episodic frequent migraine, 9-14 headache days/month", and five (0.2%) had "chronic migraine, ≥15 headache days/month". Overall, 10 (0.5%) had "chronic headache, any headache on ≥15 days/month". Female gender and younger age were the most important associated migraine risk factors. Depression (1.62 [1.06; 2.47]) and poor sleep (1.06 [1.00; 1.12]) were associated with migraine and headache activity in general. Antihypertensives were associated with headache remission (0.80 [0.64; 1.00]). Additionally, undertaking less sports (0.72 [0.51; 1.03]) was associated with higher migraine activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Headaches and migraines are not rare in the older population. They are related to mood and sleep disturbance, and migraine even to less physical activity. Antihypertensives are related to headache remission.

Episodic migraine and chest pain as the first manifestation of small cell lung carcinoma

Migraine-like associated with chest pain is an alarming association and forces us to rule out the presence of a secondary cause. That must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of craniofacial hemicranial pain that appears in patients with no personal history of headache, and risk factors for the development of pulmonary neoplasia.

Recent Advances in the Management of Migraine in Older Patients

Although the prevalence of migraine tends to decrease in the fifth to sixth decades of life, there are still a significant number of patients > 65 years of age who experience migraine or have new-onset migraine. Because these older patients are often excluded from clinical trials, there are fewer evidence-based treatment guidelines for them. Migraine treatment in the older population requires careful consideration of changes in medication metabolism and increased medical comorbidities. Furthermore, older patients can present with an atypical migraine phenotype and have a higher rate of secondary headache, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Classic preventive treatments for migraine, including tricyclic antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs, and beta blockers, often have intolerable side effects. In addition, the presence of coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease precludes the use of typical rescue medications such as triptans. As such, there has been a dire need for novel acute and preventive treatments for older adults. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on novel acute and preventive treatments for migraine in the older population. The advantages of these therapies include their efficacy, favorable side-effect profile, particularly in patients with atherosclerotic disease, as well as their tolerability.

Therapeutic implications of cortical spreading depression models in migraine

Migraine is among the most common and disabling neurological diseases in the world. Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a wave of near-complete depolarization of neurons and glial cells that slowly propagates along the cortex creating the perception of aura. Evidence suggests that CSD can trigger migraine headache. Experimental models of CSD have been considered highly translational as they recapitulate migraine-related phenomena and have been validated for screening migraine therapeutics. Here we outline the essential components of validated experimental models of CSD and provide a comprehensive review of potential modulators and targets against CSD. We further focus on novel interventions that have been recently shown to suppress CSD susceptibility that may lead to therapeutic targets in migraine.

Effect of age on pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of galcanezumab treatment in adult patients with migraine: results from six phase 2 and phase 3 randomized clinical trials

Background

Migraine clinical profile may change with age, making it necessary to verify that migraine treatments are equally safe and effective in older patients. These analyses evaluated the effects of patient age on the pharmacokinetics (PK), efficacy, and safety of galcanezumab for prevention of migraine.

Methods

Analyses included efficacy data from three double-blind phase 3 clinical trials: two 6-month studies in episodic migraine (EVOLVE-1, EVOLVE-2: N = 1773) and one 3-month study in chronic migraine (REGAIN:N = 1113). Patients were randomized 2:1:1 to placebo, galcanezumab 120 mg, or galcanezumab 240 mg. Safety and PK data included additional phase 2 and phase 3 trials for a larger sample size of patients > 60 years (range = 18–65 for all studies). Subgroup analyses assessed efficacy measures, adverse event (AE) occurrence, and cardiovascular measurement changes by patient age group. Galcanezumab PK were evaluated using a population analysis approach, where age was examined as a potential covariate on apparent clearance (CL/F) and apparent volume of distribution (V/F) of galcanezumab.

Results

Numbers of baseline monthly migraine headache days were similar across age groups. There were no statistically significant treatment-by-age group interactions for any efficacy measures, except in episodic migraine studies where older patients appeared to have a larger reduction than younger patients in the number of monthly migraine headache days with acute medication use. Age (18–65) had a minimal effect on CL/F, and no effect on V/F. Galcanezumab-treated patients ≥60 years experienced no clinically meaningful increases in blood pressure and no increased frequency in treatment-emergent AEs, discontinuations due to AEs, serious adverse events (SAEs) overall, or cardiovascular SAEs, compared to age-matched placebo-treated patients.

Conclusions

Age (up to 65 years) does not affect efficacy in migraine prevention and has no clinically meaningful influence on galcanezumab PK to warrant dose adjustment. Furthermore, older galcanezumab-treated patients experienced no increases in frequency of AEs or increases in blood pressure compared with age-matched placebo-treated patients.

Trial registrations

EVOLVE-1 (NCT02614183, registered 23 November 2015), EVOLVE-2 (NCT02614196, 23 November 2015), REGAIN (NCT02614261, 23 November 2015), ART-01 (NCT01625988, 20 June 2012, ), I5Q-MC-CGAB (NCT02163993, 12 June 2014, ), I5Q-MC-CGAJ (NCT02614287, 23 November 2015, ), all retrospectively registered.

Association Between Dry Eye Disease and Migraine Headaches in a Large Population-Based Study

Importance

Reports in the literature have conflicting findings about an association between dry eye disease (DED) and migraine headaches.

Objective

To determine the strength of the association between DED and migraine headaches.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective case-control study included 72 969 patients older than 18 years from University of North Carolina-affiliated health care facilities from May 1, 2008, through May 31, 2018. Deidentified aggregate patient data were queried; data were analyzed from June 1 through June 30, 2018.

Exposures

Diagnosis of migraine headache.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Odds ratios calculated between DED and migraine headaches for participants as a whole and stratified by sex and age group.

Results

The base population consisted of 72 969 patients, including 41 764 men (57.2%) and 31 205 women (42.8%). Of these, 5352 patients (7.3%) carried a diagnosis of migraine headache, and 9638 (13.2%) carried a diagnosis of DED. The odds of having DED given a diagnosis of migraine headaches was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.60-1.85) times higher than that of patients without migraine headaches. After accounting for multiple confounding factors, the odds of having DED given a diagnosis of migraine headaches was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.20-1.68) times higher than that of patients without migraine headaches.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that patients with migraine headaches are more likely to have comorbid DED compared with the general population. Although this association may not reflect cause and effect if unidentified confounders account for the results, these data suggest that patients with migraine headaches may be at risk of carrying a comorbid diagnosis of DED.

Pharmaceutically treated comorbidities and associated healthcare costs among triptan users in Switzerland: A pharmacoepidemiological study from a nationwide health insurance database

PURPOSE

In course of the new migraine drug development on the global market it is important to quantify the current burden of migraine medication. This study aimed to estimate the comorbidity burden and its relation to healthcare costs in patients using triptans in Switzerland by analyzing a large population-based database.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was based on Swiss health insurance claims data (2015/2016). The study sample comprised adult patients with ≥1 triptan prescription in 2015. We evaluated pharmaceutically treated comorbid conditions (CCs) and costs (12 months after index prescription) of patients using triptan. Multivariable linear regression models with log-transformed outcomes were performed to identify the factors related to healthcare costs.

RESULTS

From a total of 749 092, we identified 10,090 patients using triptans (1-year prevalence of 1.35%), whereas 58.9% had ≥2 CCs. The most frequent CCs were pain- and rheumatologic-related diseases and psychological disorders. Among triptan users, the mean total healthcare costs were highest in older patients with ≥2 CCs (>64 years: migraine with ≥2 CC "12 331 SFr"). Multivariate regression analyses showed that psychological disorders had the strongest impact on healthcare costs (Coefficient: 1.29; 95%-CI: 1.27-1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides an overview of comorbidities and its related costs in migraine patients, which helps to quantify the current burden of migraine. This is relevant as the recently licensed CGRP antagonists are likely to change current treatment schemes for migraine, which strongly depends also on the comorbidities. The present study might therefore be helpful for the future development of treatment guidelines.

Headache in the elderly

Headache is the most common neurologic symptom and affects nearly half the world's population at any given time. Although the prevalence declines with age, headache remains a common neurologic complaint among elderly populations. Headaches can be divided into primary and secondary causes. Primary headaches comprise about two-thirds of headaches among the elderly. They are defined by clinical criteria and are diagnosed based on symptom pattern and exclusion of secondary causes. Primary headaches include migraine, tension-type, trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, and hypnic headache. Secondary headaches are defined by their suspected etiology. A higher index of suspicion for a secondary headache disorder is warranted in older patients with new-onset headache. They are roughly 12 times more likely to have serious underlying causes and, frequently, have different symptomatic presentations compared to younger adults. Various imaging and laboratory evaluations are indicated in the presence of any "red flag" signs or symptoms. Head CT is the procedure of choice for acute headache presentations, and brain MRI for those with chronic headache complaints. Management of headache in elderly populations can be challenging due to the presence of multiple medical comorbidities, polypharmacy, and differences in drug metabolism and clearance.

Primary headaches during lifespan

Primary headaches are one of the most prevalent neurological disorders and can occur during a wide range of lifespan. Primary headaches, especially migraine, are cyclic disorders with a complex sequence of symptoms within every headache attack. There is no systematic review of whether these symptoms changes during lifespan. Indeed, the clinical presentation of migraine shows an age-dependent change with a significantly shorter duration of the attacks and occurrence of different paroxysmal symptoms, such as vomiting, abdominal pain or vertigo, in childhood and, in contrast, largely an absence of autonomic signs and a more often bilateral headache in the elderly. The age-dependent differences in the clinical presentation are less distinct in cluster headache and, especially, in tension-type headache. The differences in the clinical presentation are in agreement with the idea that the connectivity of hypothalamic areas with different brainstem areas, especially the central parasympathetic areas, is important for the clinical manifestation of migraine, as well as, the change during lifespan.

Frequency of dyslipidemia in migraineurs in comparison to control group

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a common disease with neurovascular nature, which is commonly prevalent in the general population. Due to the significant prevalence of migraine and its long-term complications, it is necessary to pay attention to its exacerbating factors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency distribution of dyslipidemia in patients with migraine compared with control group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a case-control study, in which 50 patients with migraine (with aura and without aura) were confirmed by the criteria of International Headache Society. Migraineurs and control group (n = 50) were selected from among patients who referred to the Neurology Clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital. The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured in both the groups. SPSS software (version 21) was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The findings showed that among migraineurs, 21 patients (42%) revealed high levels of cholesterol and 22 revealed high levels of LDL (44%); whereas among subjects without migraine, 12 subjects (24%) exhibited high levels of cholesterol and 12 (24%) high levels of LDL, where a significant correlation between the two groups was achieved.

CONCLUSION

The present results showed that migraine is associated with higher level of cholesterol and LDL when compared with the control group, where a significant relationship was found.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Headache Disorders in Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

To provide a unique perspective on geriatric headache and a number of novel treatment options that are not well known outside of the headache literature.

DESIGN

Review of the most current and relevant headache literature for practitioners specializing in geriatric care.

RESULTS

Evaluation and management of headache disorders in older adults requires an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and how it relates to age-related physiological changes. To treat headache disorders in general, the appropriate diagnosis must first be established, and treatment of headaches in elderly adults poses unique challenges, including potential polypharmacy, medical comorbidities, and physiological changes associated with aging.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this review is to provide a guide to and perspective on the challenges inherent in treating headaches in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2408-2416, 2018.

Antidepressant use in older inpatients: current situation and application of the revised STOPP criteria

Objectives

Antidepressant use increases as age rises. Moreover, older patients are more sensitive to side effects and drug interactions. This descriptive study aims to map antidepressant use among patients at the geriatrics department of a university hospital and to evaluate whether prescribing happens in an evidence-based manner.

Methods

Patients aged 75 years and over, admitted to the geriatrics department of the Middelheim Hospital in Antwerp between February and July 2017 were included. We checked whether they took antidepressants, which types and doses were prescribed, who prescribed the antidepressants, and whether prescribing was in concordance with the revised STOPP (Screening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions) criteria.

Results

Out of the 239 included patients, 61 were found to use antidepressants, with depression being the most important indication. General practitioners appeared to be the most frequent prescribers. Trazodone was the most prescribed antidepressant and was often used for sleeping disorders. Antidepressants were taken longer than recommended in almost one out of five cases. Patients with diabetes and renal insufficiency were prescribed antidepressants less frequently. Only 2.8% of the study participants were prescribed antidepressants for anxiety disorders.

Conclusion

We can conclude that prescription of antidepressants in older patients at the geriatrics department is often not evidence based. Clear guidelines may offer a solution; therefore more studies are needed on antidepressant use in older patients.

Diagnosis and Management of Headache in Older Adults

Headache is a common, disabling neurologic problem in all age groups, including older adults. In older adults, headache is most likely a primary disorder, such as tension-type headache or migraine; however, there is a higher risk of secondary causes, such as giant cell arteritis or intracranial lesions, than in younger adults. Thus, based on the headache history, clinical examination, and presence of headache red flags, a focused diagnostic evaluation is recommended, ranging from blood tests to neuroimaging, depending on the headache characteristics. Regardless of the primary or secondary headache disorder diagnosis, treatment options may be limited in older patients and may need to be tailored to the presence of comorbid medical conditions. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the management of headache in older adults, from diagnosis to treatment.

Effectiveness of physiotherapy for seniors with recurrent headaches associated with neck pain and dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

A previous study demonstrated that in seniors, the presence of cervical musculoskeletal impairment was not specific to cervicogenic headache but was present in various recurrent headache types. Physiotherapy treatment is indicated in those seniors diagnosed with cervicogenic headache but could also be adjunct treatment for those with cervical musculoskeletal signs who are suspected of having transitional headaches.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a physiotherapy program for seniors with recurrent headaches associated with neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal dysfunction, irrespective of the headache classification.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a prospective, stratified, randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment.

PATIENT SAMPLE

Sixty-five participants with recurrent headache, aged 50-75 years, were randomly assigned to either a physiotherapy (n=33) or a usual care group (n=32).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was headache frequency. Secondary outcomes were headache intensity and duration, neck pain and disability, cervical range of motion, quality of life, participant satisfaction, and medication intake.

METHODS

Participants in the physiotherapy group received 14 treatment sessions. Participants in the usual care group continued with their usual care. Outcome measures were recorded at baseline, 11 weeks, 6 months, and 9 months. This study was funded by a government research fund of $6,850. No conflict of interest is declared.

RESULTS

There was no loss to follow-up for the primary outcome measure. Compared with usual care, participants receiving physiotherapy reported significant reductions in headache frequency immediately after treatment (mean difference -1.6 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.5 to -0.6), at 6-month follow-up (-1.7 days, 95% CI -2.6 to -0.8), and at 9-month follow-up (-2.4 days, 95% CI -3.2 to -1.5), and significant improvements in all secondary outcomes immediately posttreatment and at 6- and 9-month follow-ups, (p<.05 for all). No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Physiotherapy treatment provided benefits over usual care for seniors with recurrent headache associated with neck pain and dysfunction.

Headaches of the elderly

The prevalence of headache decreases in elderly age groups; however, headache remains a significant issue with unique diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in this population. While primary headache disorders such as migraine and tension-type headache still occur in the majority of cases, secondary headaches are more common with advancing age. Additionally, several rare primary headache disorders, such as hypnic headache and primary cough headache, occur more frequently in an elderly population and have distinct treatments. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the common, concerning, and unique headache disorders affecting the elderly.

Test-retest reliability of visual-evoked potential habituation

Objective

Habituation of visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) is typically described as deficient interictally in migraine patients, supposedly indicating altered cortical excitability. Use of this parameter for monitoring changes over time, e.g. under treatment, requires demonstration of test-retest reliability.

Methods

VEPs were recorded interictally in 41 episodic migraine patients and 40 controls. N75–P100 amplitudes were measured over six consecutive blocks of 75 VEPs each. Amplitude regression slopes and block ratios were used to quantify VEP habituation. Test-retest reliability was assessed over 15 minutes and two to three weeks.

Results

Controls showed significantly more negative VEP habituation slopes than migraine patients (−0.21 ± 0.40 vs. 0.04 ± 0.46 µV/block, p < 0.05). Results were similar for block ratios, though, in the migraine group, VEP habituation significantly increased from test to two- to three-week retest ( p < 0.05). In addition, VEP habituation test-retest correlations were mostly poor both in migraine patients and controls (intraclass correlation coefficients, 15 minutes: −0.13 to 0.30, two to three weeks: 0.07 to 0.59).

Conclusions

Deficient VEP habituation in migraine was confirmed. However, the test-retest reliability of VEP habituation was rather weak. Therefore, we suggest that VEP habituation should be used for evaluation of cortical excitability under treatment only at the group level and only when a control group with sham treatment is included.

Headache as a predictor for dementia: The HUNT Study

BACKGROUND

The impact of headache on dementia is largely unknown. This study examined the association between headache and dementia using data from a large population-based study.

METHODS

This population-based study used data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Surveys performed in 1995-1997 (HUNT2) and 2006-2008 (HUNT3). The reference group (controls) was participants aged ≥55 years who answered the headache questions in HUNT2 and later participated in HUNT3 (n = 15,601). The association with headache status in HUNT2 was investigated in sample of confirmed non-demented elderly evaluated with psychometric tests after HUNT3 (n = 96), and HUNT2 participants later diagnosed with dementia during 1997-2011 (n = 746). The association with headache was evaluated by logistical regression with adjustment for age, gender, level of education, comorbidity, smoking, and anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

Any headache was more likely to be reported in HUNT2 among those who later were included in the dementia registry (OR 1.24; 95 % CI 1.04-1.49) compared to the reference group, but less likely among the confirmed non-demented individuals (OR 0.62; 95 % CI 0.39-0.98). This relationship was even stronger for non-migrainous headache, whereas such association was not found for migraine.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to the reference group, individuals with dementia were more likely to report non-previous migrainous headache in HUNT2, whereas a sample of confirmed non-demented were less likely to report previous non-migrainous headache.

Late-life migraine accompaniments: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Migraine is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders. In 1980, C. Miller Fisher described late-life migraine accompaniments as transient neurological episodes in older individuals that mimic transient ischemic attacks. There has not been an update on the underlying nature and etiology of late-life migraine accompanimentsd since the original description.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive and extensive review of the late-life migraine accompaniments including the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, and treatment.

METHODS

Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE®, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases for publications from 1941 to July 2014. The search terms "Migraine accompaniments," "Late life migraine," "Migraine with aura," "Typical aura without headache," "Migraine equivalents," "Acephalic migraine," "Elderly migraine," and "Transient neurological episodes" were used.

CONCLUSION

Late-life onset of migraine with aura is not rare in clinical practice and can occur without headache, especially in elderly individuals. Visual symptoms are the most common presentation, followed respectively by sensory, aphasic, and motor symptoms. Gradual evolution, the march of transient neurological deficits over several minutes and serial progression from one symptom to another in succession are typical clinical features for late-life migraine accompaniments. Transient neurological disturbances in migraine aura can mimic other serious conditions and can be easily misdiagnosed. Careful clinical correlation and appropriate investigations are essential to exclude secondary causes. Treatments are limited and still inconsistent.

Gender influences headache characteristics with increasing age in migraine patients

Background and aims

Migraine headache is one of the most common primary headache disorders and is three times more prevalent in women than in men, especially during the reproductive ages. The neurobiological basis of the female dominance has been partly established. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on the headache manifestations in migraine patients.

Methods

The study group consisted of 2082 adult patients from five different hospitals’ tertiary care-based headache clinics. The relationship between headache characteristics and gender was evaluated in migraine with aura (MwA) and migraine without aura (MwoA). The duration, severity, frequency of headache and associated symptoms were evaluated in both genders and age-dependent variations and analyzed in two subgroups.

Results

Women with migraine were prone to significantly longer duration and intensity of headache attacks. Nausea, phonophobia and photophobia were more prevalent in women. Median headache duration was also longer in women than in men in MwA ( p = 0.013) and MwoA ( p < 0.001). Median headache intensity was higher in women than in men in MwA ( p = 0.010) and MwoA ( p = 0.009). The frequency of nausea was significantly higher in women than in men in MwA ( p = 0.049). Throbbing headache quality and associated features (nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia) were significantly more frequent in women than in men in MwoA. The gender impact varied across age groups and significant changes were seen in female migraineurs after age 30. No age-dependent variation was observed in male migraineurs.

Conclusion

Gender has an influence on the characteristics of the headache as well as on the associated symptoms in migraine patients, and this impact varies across the age groups, particularly in women.

Epilepsy in the elderly: Special considerations and challenges

The elderly are generally defined as those over 60 or 65 years old, but they are a heterogeneous group and may be subdivided into categories based on age and health status. The incidence of epilepsy is highest in the elderly. With a progressive increase in life expectancy, this is the fastest growing segment of patients with epilepsy. Older patients most often have focal seizures, with less prominent auras and automatisms, and longer duration of postictal confusion compared to younger patients. Status epilepticus is common and has a high mortality. The most common specific etiology is cerebrovascular disease, but the cause remains unknown in many patients. Diagnosis can be challenging because of several patient-related, physician-related and investigation-related factors. Over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis are common. Treatment is complicated by the presence of physiological changes related to aging, co-morbidities and cognitive problems as well as concerns regarding drug interactions and medication adherence. Seizures can be controlled in most patients with low doses of a single anti-epileptic drug (AED). Tolerability is an important factor in selection of an AED, as elderly patients tend to be highly sensitive to side effects. Drug-resistant epilepsy is uncommon. Epilepsy surgery, especially temporal lobectomy, can be performed in older patients with good results. More studies addressing the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy in this age group, and greater inclusion of the elderly in clinical trials, as well as development of comprehensive care models are needed to provide optimal care to these patients.

Cardiovascular risk factors associated with migraine among the elderly with a low income: The São Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH)

Background: To investigate the association between cardiovascular risk-factor profile and migraine in the elderly, we evaluated a population sample of ageing men and women (65 years or more) living in a low-income area in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Patients and Methods: We investigated migraine status and cardiovascular profile from a baseline of 1450 participants (65–102 years of age) of the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study (SPAH), a longitudinal population-based study with low-income elderly in Brazil. The following age and sex-adjusted cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed: blood pressure, pulse pressure, serum total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, smoking, history of hypertension, diabetes and the 10-year risk of myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease death based on the Framingham Risk Score.

Results: The overall prevalence of migraine was 11.4%, and it was 3 times more frequent among women than men (15.3% vs 5.4%; P < 0.0001). Migraineurs were younger than non-migraineurs (mean age 70.6 years vs 72.1 years; P = 0.001, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference regarding the cardiovascular risk-factor profile after adjustment for age and sex among migraineurs and non-migraineurs. Only a decrease in the risk of hypertension among women (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.38–0.90; P = 0.01) was also observed even after adjustment for age.

Conclusions: Overall, we did not find a worse cardiovascular risk profile among elderly migraineurs. An inverse association between hypertension and migraine in women warrants further investigation.

Genetics of headaches

Insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in primary headaches is important to identify drug targets for improving treatment of patients, but essentially lacking. Genetic research is increasingly successful in pinpointing these mechanisms. Most progress has been made for Familial Hemiplegic Migraine, a rare subtype of migraine with aura. Three genes (CACNA1A, ATP1A2 and SCN1A) have been identified that all encode ion transporters. Cellular and transgenic mouse studies suggest that neuronal hyperexcitability and increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression, the correlate of migraine aura, are important molecular mechanisms in migraine. Investigating monogenic diseases in which migraine is a prominent feature such as CADASIL, which is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene, can help understanding the pathology of migraine. Candidate gene association studies and linkage studies in the common forms of migraine were less successful. Except for the MTHFR gene no gene variant has been identified yet. Convincingly demonstrated genetic findings in other primary headaches such as cluster headache and tension-type headache are even rarer. However, with current technical possibilities of massive genotyping and international efforts to collect large well-phenotyped patient cohorts, the first gene variants for various primary headache types are likely to be discovered in the coming decade.

Epilepsy in later life

Epilepsy is most likely to develop in later life. The burden of this disorder on health-care resources will rise further as the world's population continues to age. Making a secure diagnosis can be challenging because the clinical manifestations of seizures and the differential diagnoses and causes of epilepsy can be different in older individuals compared with younger individuals. Obtaining a reliable account of the events for accurate assessment is particularly important in guiding the appropriate choice and interpretation of investigations to arrive at the correct diagnosis. In older age, unique pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes occur. The use and selection of antiepileptic drugs is often further complicated by the presence of comorbidities, polypharmacy, and concomitant functional impairment, but there is a paucity of high-level clinical evidence on the effects of these factors as well as on the choice of treatment in the elderly. A comprehensive model of care should combine expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy with effective assessment and management of the psychosocial effects to improve the prognosis in this vulnerable and poorly studied group of patients.

The Prevalence of Headache Among Elderly in a Low-Income Area of São Paulo, Brazil

There are scarce data about headache prevalence and its characteristics among elderly people. The aim was to carry out a cross-sectional study to determine the 1-year prevalence of tension-type and migraine headaches in people >65 years old in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. All 1615 people living in the study catchment area who agreed to participate in the study answered a questionnaire based in the International Headache Society criteria. Prevalence (mean and 95% confidence interval) of any type of headache in the last year was 45.6% (43.2, 48.0). Prevalence of tension-type headache in the last year was 33.1% (30.8, 35.4): 28.1% (24.6, 31.6) for men and 36.4% (33.4, 39.4) for women; for migraine headaches, prevalence in the last year was 10.6% (9.1, 12.1): 5.1% (3.4, 6.8) for men and 14.1% (11.9, 16.3) for women. One-year prevalence rates of headaches, and especially of migraine headaches, are very high among the elderly in Brazil.

Lifetime basilar migraine: a pontine syndrome?

We describe the clinical and radiological findings of an 82-year-old woman patient with basilar type migraine attacks occurring over 70 years with a similar pattern of intensity and symptoms. We provide some evidence to suggest that gradual development of calcifications in the pontine tegmental nuclei can trigger attacks of basilar type migraine.