Migraine Headaches and Cognitive Decline

Here’s a health note that falls directly in the category of Cold Comfort.

According to a Johns Hopkins study that followed nearly 1,500 women for 12 years, women over the age of 50 with a lifetime history of migraine headaches with aura have a lower risk of developing cognitive decline than women without migraine.

Migraine with aura is accompanied by blurred vision and flashes of light. In the worst cases, nausea, vomiting, limb numbness, and speech impairment also occur.

Researchers don’t know why migraine with aura might contribute to a lower risk of cognitive decline. Lead researcher, Dr. Amanda Kalaydjian, speculates that migraine patients may follow special diets or modify their behavior in such a way that improves cognition.

Dr. Kalaydjian told Reuters Health, “It seems more likely that there may be some underlying biological mechanism, such as changes in blood vessels or underlying differences in brain activity.”