Cognitive impairment and quality of life in patients with migraine-associated vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of migraine-associated vertigo (MV) on the cognitive state of patients and their quality of life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the study, including 40 diagnosed with MV, forty with a simple migraine and 40 healthy volunteers. Cognitive assessments were done using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and a battery of tests for cognitive functions in performance, memory, language, space and attention during interictal periods. Also, MRI was used to detect brain white matter lesions and SF-36 for quality of life.

RESULTS: The scores of cognitive tests (MMSE, tracing, memory and VFT scores) in MV cases were significantly lower than those in the simple migraine group. TMT-A and TMT-B scores in the MV group were the highest followed by those in the simple migraine group. The incidence of deep brain, peripheral lateral ventricle and total white matter lesions in the MV group was higher than that in the simple migraine group. Finally, the deep lesion and peripheral lateral ventricle scores in the MV group were significantly higher than those in the simple migraine group. The physical, social, mental and total health scores in the MV group were significantly lower than those in the simple migraine group. All the differences found between groups had statistical significance, and all the variables examined fared best in the healthy control group.

CONCLUSIONS: MV patients show a more pronounced cognitive impairment than patients with a simple migraine or healthy volunteers, the incidence of brain white matter lesions is increased in them, and their quality of life is severely compromised.