Non-Verbal Cognitive Abilities in Children and Adolescents Affected by Migraine and Tension-Type Headache: An Observational Study Using the Leiter-3.

Lucia Margari,Mariella Margari,Paola A Lecce,Silvana M C Seccia,Francesco Craig,Marta Simone,Maura Buttiglione,Roberto Palumbi

doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.00078

Abstract

Headache is one of the most common neurological disorders in developmental age. Several studies investigated the relationship between headache and emotional/behavioral problems. We studied non-verbal cognitive abilities, including non-verbal memory and attention skills, in order to evaluate the impact of primary headache on these domains. The latest version of the cognitive battery Leiter International Performance Scale – Third Edition (Leiter-3), a non-verbal test, was administered to 35 children and adolescents affected by migraine or tension-type headache and to 23 healthy subjects. We found that frequency of attacks and headache disability (evaluated with the Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Score Questionnaire) significantly correlate with non-verbal memory and sustained attention skills. However, we found that headache disability has a significant impact on specific cognitive domains related to sustained attention and non-verbal memory skills. The relationship between headache and memory/attention deficits may have an explanation based on a possible common physiopathology ground, including noradrenergic and dopaminergic pathways.

Highlights

Headache has a significant impact on the quality of life of both affected patients and their families
The inclusion criteria for the study were: (a) age between 11 and 18 years; (b) diagnosis of primary headache according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3 beta version)
No statistical significant differences were found in the comparison of Leiter-3 scores between patients and control group

Summary

Introduction

Headache has a significant impact on the quality of life of both affected patients and their families. This disorder is very common among children and adolescents [1]. According to a recent review covering epidemiological studies published in the past 25 years, the estimated overall mean prevalence of headache among children and adolescents was 54.4% (range: 43.1–65.8), and it resulted more common in female than male subjects [2]. The impact of primary headache on cognitive functions is not yet comprehensively studied in children and adolescents; studies regarding the effect of primary headache on neuropsychological functions showed variable and not consistent results.

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Results