Age-Related Changes in Headache Days across the Cognitive Spectrum

Authors

Karl Echiverri, University of Kentucky
Gregory A. Jicha, University of KentuckyFollow
Jonathan H. Smith, University of KentuckyFollow

Abstract

Introduction: Prior studies demonstrating age-related declines in headache prevalence have not accounted for the potentially confounding effects of cognitive impairment. Our primary goal was to assess the relationship between aging and self-reported monthly headache days across the cognitive spectrum.

Methods: A detailed headache questionnaire was included prospectively as part of an annual mailing to participants in the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging longitudinal cohort.

Results: The overall survey response rate was 58.6%, yielding a cohort of 332 cognitively normal, 71 mild cognitive impairment (median Mini-Mental Status Examination [MMSE] score = 27, interquartile range [IQR] = 25-28), and 51 demented (median MMSE score = 24, IQR = 19-26) individuals. Current headaches were reported by 22.8%, 25%, and 27.1%, respectively, across normal, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia subgroups. A negative correlation was observed between age and average headache days in cognitively normal (ρ = -0.163, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.246 to -0.022, P = 0.004), mild cognitive impairment (ρ = -0.255, 95% CI = -0.274 to 0.229, P = 0.0475), and dementia groups (ρ = -0.295, 95% CI = -0.457 to 0.159, P = 0.068). Ordinary least-squares regression with backward selection identified age alone, but not gender or MMSE, as predicting headache days in the overall cohort.

Conclusions: Aging is associated with a decline in headache days in the absence of any confounding cognitive pathology and is weakly predictive of headache days across the cognitive spectrum. Whether this represents a reporting bias due to dementia or has neurobiological significance warrants further investigation.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2018

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Pain Medicine, v. 19, issue 7.

© 2017 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnx193

Funding Information

Dr. Jicha is funded by P30 AG028383.

Repository Citation

Echiverri, Karl; Jicha, Gregory A.; and Smith, Jonathan H., "Age-Related Changes in Headache Days across the Cognitive Spectrum" (2018). Neurology Faculty Publications. 72.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/neurology_facpub/72