Exploration of intrinsic brain activity in migraine with and without comorbid depression

Abstract

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder is a common comorbidity in migraineurs. Depression may affect the progression and prognosis of migraine. Few studies have examined the brain function in migraineurs that may cause this comorbidity. Here, we aimed to explore depression-related abnormalities in the intrinsic brain activity of interictal migraineurs with comorbid depression using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsSignificant main effects of migraine and depression provided evidence that migraine and depression jointly affected the left medial prefrontal cortex, which was thought to be the neural basis of self-referential mental activity in previous studies. Abnormalities in this region may contribute to determining the common symptoms of migraine and depression and even result in comorbidity. Additionally, migraineurs with comorbid depression had different developmental trajectories in the right thalamus and fusiform, which were associated with recognizing, transmitting, controlling and remembering pain and emotion.ConclusionsBased on our findings, the abnormal mPFC which may contribute to determining the common symptoms in migraine and depression and may be a therapeutic target for migraineurs comorbid depression. The different developmental trajectory in thalamus and fusiform indicates that the comorbidity may arise through a specific mechanism rather than simple superposition of migraine and depression.

Is There an Association Between Migraine and Major Depressive Disorder? A Narrative Review

“…Cerebral cortex micro-architecture is different in patients with migraines and MDD compared to the patients who are suffering from a single disease [37][38]. In patients with both ailments, we also notice a discordant developmental track of the fusiform gyrus and detectable changes in the thalamus [37]. Changes are also evident in the control of pain and mood perceived by these comorbid individuals.…”

“…Generally, patients with depression have a two-fold chance of developing migraines [12]. There are differences in the brain tissue volumes among patients who encounter these two diseases [13]. Also, there is a 40-50% heritable association associated with migraine and major depressive disorder [14].…”

The exploration of mechanisms of comorbidity between migraine and depression

“…Abnormalities in this brain area can lead to depressive symptoms or migraine symptoms, the study found increased intrinsic brain activity in the left mPFC in people with depression. The mPFC, as the anterior node of the default mode network (DMN), was highly active at rest but inhibit activity during cognitive and emotional processing, migraineurs also exhibited increased intrinsic brain activity in the left mPFC . The DMN involves low‐frequency oscillations of about one fluctuation per second.…”

“…Numerous studies of the structural or functional imaging of migraine have found a difference in the brain and abnormalities in specific cerebral areas. [17][18][19][20] There are discrepant developmental tracks of the fusiform gyrus, as well as the thalamus, in patients with migraine comorbid with depression. These trajectories are associated with transmission, recognition, control and memory of pain and mood.…”

“…The mPFC, as the anterior node of the default mode network (DMN), was highly active at rest but inhibit activity during cognitive and emotional processing, migraineurs also exhibited increased intrinsic brain activity in the left mPFC. 17 The DMN involves low-frequency oscillations of about one fluctuation per second. The network is most active when the brain is at rest.…”