Migraine Severity, Obesity Link Examined in Women

Associations of migraine severity and presence of associated features with inhibitory control varied by body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese women with migraine, according to a recent study. These findings, therefore, warrant consideration of weight status in clarifying the role of migraine in executive functioning. Women (n=124) aged 18–50 years with overweight/obesity BMI=35.1 ± 6.4 kg/m² and migraine completed a 28-day smartphone-based headache diary assessing migraine headache severity (attack frequency, pain intensity) and frequency of associated features (aura, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea). They then completed computerized measures of inhibitory control during an interictal (headache-free) period. Researchers found:

• Participants with higher migraine attack frequency performed worse on the Flanker test (accuracy and reaction time).
• Migraine attack frequency and pain intensity interacted with BMI to predict slower Stroop and/or Flanker Reaction Time (RT).
• More frequent photophobia, phonophobia, and aura were independently related to slower RT on the Stroop and/or Flanker tests, and BMI moderated the relationship between the occurrence of aura and Stroop RT.

The role of migraine headache severity, associated features and interactions with overweight/obesity in inhibitory control. Int J Neurosci. 2018;128(1):63-70. doi:10.1080/00207454.2017.1366474.

Associations of migraine severity and presence of associated features with inhibitory control varied by body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese women with migraine, according to a recent study. These findings, therefore, warrant consideration of weight status in clarifying the role of migraine in executive functioning. Women (n=124) aged 18–50 years with overweight/obesity BMI=35.1 ± 6.4 kg/m² and migraine completed a 28-day smartphone-based headache diary assessing migraine headache severity (attack frequency, pain intensity) and frequency of associated features (aura, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea). They then completed computerized measures of inhibitory control during an interictal (headache-free) period. Researchers found:

• Participants with higher migraine attack frequency performed worse on the Flanker test (accuracy and reaction time).
• Migraine attack frequency and pain intensity interacted with BMI to predict slower Stroop and/or Flanker Reaction Time (RT).
• More frequent photophobia, phonophobia, and aura were independently related to slower RT on the Stroop and/or Flanker tests, and BMI moderated the relationship between the occurrence of aura and Stroop RT.

The role of migraine headache severity, associated features and interactions with overweight/obesity in inhibitory control. Int J Neurosci. 2018;128(1):63-70. doi:10.1080/00207454.2017.1366474.

Associations of migraine severity and presence of associated features with inhibitory control varied by body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese women with migraine, according to a recent study. These findings, therefore, warrant consideration of weight status in clarifying the role of migraine in executive functioning. Women (n=124) aged 18–50 years with overweight/obesity BMI=35.1 ± 6.4 kg/m² and migraine completed a 28-day smartphone-based headache diary assessing migraine headache severity (attack frequency, pain intensity) and frequency of associated features (aura, photophobia, phonophobia, nausea). They then completed computerized measures of inhibitory control during an interictal (headache-free) period. Researchers found:

• Participants with higher migraine attack frequency performed worse on the Flanker test (accuracy and reaction time).
• Migraine attack frequency and pain intensity interacted with BMI to predict slower Stroop and/or Flanker Reaction Time (RT).
• More frequent photophobia, phonophobia, and aura were independently related to slower RT on the Stroop and/or Flanker tests, and BMI moderated the relationship between the occurrence of aura and Stroop RT.

The role of migraine headache severity, associated features and interactions with overweight/obesity in inhibitory control. Int J Neurosci. 2018;128(1):63-70. doi:10.1080/00207454.2017.1366474.