Relationship among cognitive function, depression, and vitamin D in a sample of Egyptian patients with migraine

Background
Migraine is the second most common cause of headache worldwide. Recently, vitamin D deficiency has been considered as a global health problem. Cognitive impairment and depression are common comorbidities with both migraine and vitamin D deficiency. Some studies have shown relationship between vitamin D deficiency and migraine; however, the available evidence on association among vitamin D, migraine, and those comorbidities is limited.
Objective
To study the relation between vitamin D and migraine and to explore its relation to depression and cognitive impairment as comorbidities of migraine.
Patients and methods
This was a cross-sectional comparative case–control study. A total of 30 patients with migraine aged 18–41 years were included along with 30 controls, who were age and sex matched. All patients were assessed for frequency, duration of migraine attacks, and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MDAS). All patients with chronic migraine were not on prophylactic treatment. Moreover, patients and control were exposed to Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAM-D) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to assess depression and cognition, respectively. Serum vitamin D level was also measured.
Results
Serum vitamin D was significantly decreased in migraineurs with negative correlation to duration of disease and frequency of attacks; however, it was not significant to cognitive impairment or depression. MoCA and HAM-D were significantly affected in patients with migraine than control with significant decline in chronic form of migraine; however, there was no significant difference between migraine with aura or without. MoCA and HAM-D were also related to MDAS but not to vitamin D.
Conclusion
Serum vitamin D is deficient in migraineurs and was related to frequency of attacks but not to the severity of migraine, associated depression, or cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment and depression were explored in migraineurs and related to MDAS. Cognitive impairment is related to both migraine with aura or without aura, and patients with chronic migraine are affected more than those with episodic migraine.