The Neuropsychology of Migraine

Migraine is a common and recurrent headache disorder that may present with a variety of neurologic and non-neurologic manifestations. It has been classified into migraine with aura and migraine without aura. Research has shown that migraine affects verbal, visuo-spatial memory, and selective attention tasks. Cognitive impairments observed in migraineurs have been found to occur during a migraine attack, after the attack, and even when the individual does not exhibit any residual effects of the attack. Individuals with migraine are at a greater risk of developing anxiety and depression. Migraine disability is most commonly assessed using the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), a simple five-item scale that assesses the individual’s level of performance and areas of impairment. This review assesses the neuropsychological aspects of the complex malady that is migraine.