Evaluating the Relationship Between Migraine and Cognitive Function by Using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)

Background: Migraine is recognized as one of the most prevalent disorders worldwide. Previous imaging studies suggest some structural changes in the brains of migraine patients. Studies investigating the relationship between migraine and cognition have shown conflicting results. Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the association between migraine and cognitive function using the frontal assessment battery (FAB) test. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 96 participants, including 48 migraine patients and 48 healthy subjects, were recruited. Migraine was diagnosed and classified as migraine without aura (MO) and migraine with aura (MA), based on the international classification of headache disorders, third edition (ICHD-3). All participants were interviewed, and demographic and migraine-specific variables (duration of the disease, frequency of the disease, severity of headaches, preventive medication use) were collected. Cognitive function was then assessed using the FAB, a validated tool for assessing frontal lobe cognitive functions. Results: Of the 48 migraine patients, 10 were diagnosed with MA, and 38 were diagnosed with MO. The FAB results were significantly lower in migraine patients compared to controls (median ± [interquartile range (IQR)]: 15.00 [4.00] vs. 16.00 [3.75], P-value = 0.04). Furthermore, patients with MO (14.00 [5.00]) had significantly lower FAB scores than the control group (P-value = 0.01). No significant differences were observed between patients with MA and either the control group (15.50 [1.50], P-value = 0.82) or MO patients (P-value = 0.09). Additionally, a moderate positive correlation between FAB scores and years of education (r = 0.54, P-value < 0.001) and mild negative correlations with age (r = -0.32, P-value < 0.001) and Body Mass Index (BMI) (r = -0.35, P-value < 0.001) were observed. No significant associations were found between FAB scores and sex, smoking, drinking, or migraine-specific variables. Conclusions: The present study suggests that a history of migraine, especially MO, could worsen cognitive function. However, we cannot specify the relationship between MA and cognition, nor its differences with MO. Additionally cognition could have a moderate positive correlation with years of education and a mild negative correlation with age and BMI. Moreover, disease duration, frequency, severity, or preventive medication use did not have a significant impact on cognitive performance in migraine patients.