Abstract

Background
Cognitive impairment has been documented in patients with migraine. Predictors were frequency, dura- tion, and intensity of headaches and a long history of suffering with migraine. However, neuropsychological conse- quences such as cognitive profiles or mood states of a long history of migraine are still debatable. To clarify cognitive outcomes in patients with a long history of migraine and to examine significant contributory predictors. Methods: We compared the cognitive performances of patients with a history of migraine at least 10 years with healthy controls using various neuropsychological tests. We measured mood states to assess the effect of mood on cognitive performances. We acquired demographic and migraine-associated variables through a headache questionnaire. We correlated cognitive outcomes with migraine variables, including mood states, and then examined predictors by mul- tiple regression analyses. Results: Cognitive performances of long-term migraineurs were significantly worse compared to controls. The age of migraine onset was a predictor of performance on list learning, immediate, and delayed word recall tasks. Depre- ssion was a predictor for performance on list learning and Digit Span Backward. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is elucidated in patients with a long history of migraine. Treatment plans for depre- ssion should be evaluated based on the potential improvement of cognitive functioning.