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Migraine Association with Alzheimer’s Disease Risk: Evidence from the UK Biobank Cohort Study and Mendelian Randomization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2024

Chaofan Geng  and
Chen Chen Open the ORCID record for Chen Chen [Opens in a new window]
Chaofan Geng
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology & Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, Beijing, China
Chen Chen*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou University People’s Hospital, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
*
Corresponding author: C. Chen; Email: chenchensjnk@163.com
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Abstract:

Background:

Epidemiological studies on the association between migraine and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk have yielded inconsistent conclusions. We aimed to characterize the phenotypic and genetic relationships between migraine and AD.

Methods:

To investigate the association between migraine and the risk of AD by analyzing data from a large sample of 404,318 individuals who were initially free from all-cause dementia or cognitive impairment, utilizing the UK Biobank dataset. We employed Cox regression modeling and propensity score matching techniques to examine the relationship between migraine and subsequent occurrences of AD. Additionally, the study utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to identify the genetic relationship between migraine and the risk of AD.

Results:

Migraine patients had a significantly increased risk of developing AD, compared to non-migraine patients (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.01–0.74, P < 0.001). Moreover, the propensity scores matching analyses found that migraine patients had a significantly higher risk of developing AD compared to non-migraine patients (HR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1,68–2.05, P < 0.001). Additionally, the MR suggested that significant causal effects of migraine on AD risks were observed [odds ratio (OR) = 2.315; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.029–5.234; P = 0.002]. Moreover, no evidence supported the causal effects of AD on migraine (OR = 1.000; 95%CI = 0.999–1.006; P = 0.971).

Conclusion:

The present study concludes that migraine patients, compared to a matched control group, exhibit an increased risk of developing AD. Moreover, migraine patients exhibit an increased predisposition of genetic susceptibility to AD. These findings hold significant clinical value for early intervention and treatment of migraines to reduce the risk of AD.

Résumé :

RÉSUMÉ :

L’association de la migraine avec le risque de maladie d’Alzheimer : données probantes tirées de l’étude de cohorte de la UK Biobank (la biobanque du Royaume Uni) et analysées par répartition aléatoire mendélienne.

Contexte :

Des études épidémiologiques ont déjà porté sur l’association de la migraine avec le risque de maladie d’Alzheimer (MA), mais il s’en dégage des conclusions divergentes. Aussi l’étude ici décrite avait-elle pour but de caractériser les relations phénotypiques et génétiques entre la migraine et la MA.

Méthode :

Afin d’examiner l’association de la migraine avec le risque de MA, l’équipe de recherche a procédé à une analyse de données provenant de la UK Biobank, fondée sur un imposant échantillon de 404 318 sujets exempts, au départ, de toute cause de démence ou de troubles cognitifs. Les chercheurs ont aussi eu recours à la modélisation de régression de Cox et aux techniques d’appariement des scores de propension pour examiner la relation entre la migraine et la présence ultérieure de la MA. De plus, l’équipe s’est appuyée sur une analyse par répartition aléatoire mendélienne (RAM) afin d’établir une relation génétique entre la migraine et le risque de MA.

Résultats :

Les sujets migraineux avaient un risque significativement accru de MA, comparativement aux sujets non migraineux (rapport de risques instantanés [RRI] rajusté = 2,34; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % = 2,01-0,74; p < 0,001). En outre, d’après les analyses d’appariement des scores de propension, les participants ayant des migraines connaissaient un risque significativement plus grand de MA que les sujets qui en étaient exempts (RRI = 1,85; IC à 95 % = 1,68-2,05; p < 0,001). De plus, un effet causal important de la migraine sur le risque de MA se serait dégagé de l’analyse par RAM (risque relatif approché [RRA] = 2,315; IC à 95 % = 1,029-5,234; p = 0,002). Par contre, rien ne permet d’établir de lien causal entre la MA et la migraine (RRA = 1,000; IC à 95 % = 0,999-1,006; p = 0,971).

Conclusion :

D’après les résultats de l’étude, les sujets qui souffrent de migraine connaissent un risque plus grand de MA que les témoins appariés qui en sont exempts. De plus, la migraine comporte une prédisposition accrue de susceptibilité génétique à la MA. Aussi faudrait-il accorder une grande valeur clinique aux interventions et aux traitements précoces de la migraine afin de réduire le risque de MA.

Keywords

migraineAlzheimer’s diseaseriskcausal relationshipMendelian randomization
Type
Original Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 52 , Issue 1 , January 2025 , pp. 44 - 52
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation

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