Glymphatic-Hippocampal Axis Alterations Across the Migraine-Medication Exposure Continuum: A Multi-modal Neuroimaging Study.

This research studied how migraine and medication overuse affect brain function. Researchers looked at 149 participants, including healthy individuals and those with migraines. They divided participants into four groups: healthy controls, medication-naive migraine patients, those using medication moderately, and medication-overuse headache (MOH) patients. The study measured brain structures and glymphatic clearance. Results showed that glymphatic alterations increased as medication use progressed. Specifically, the right-hemispheric centrum semiovale's perivascular space volume fraction increased significantly in MOH patients compared to others. This suggests that the brain's ability to clear waste may worsen with more medication use. Understanding these changes could help identify new treatment approaches. The findings indicate a link between medication overuse and structural brain changes. Overall, this research highlights the importance of monitoring medication use in migraine patients to prevent further complications. Clinical relevance: This study highlights how medication overuse in migraine patients may worsen brain function, suggesting the need for careful management of medication use.