Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39193854›Full record

Observational studyHeadache2025

Cognitive symptoms in veterans with migraine or traumatic brain injury: A Million Veteran Program study.

Matthew S Herbert, Victoria C Merritt, Niloofar Afari, Million Veteran Program, Marianna Gasperi

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Headache, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Observational
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Matthew S HerbertVA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.
Victoria C MerrittVA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.
Niloofar AfariVA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.
Million Veteran Program
Marianna GasperiVA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.

Funding

CSRD VA IK2 CX001952CSRD VA IK2 CX002107RRD VA IK2 RX002807U.S. Department of VA Clinical Science Research & Development Service 1IK2CX002107U.S. Department of VA Clinical Science Research & Development Service IK2CX001952U.S. Department of VA Rehabilitation Research and Development 1IK2RX002807
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the spectrum and severity of cognitive symptoms in veterans with migraine, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or both; and to evaluate the extent to which psychiatric conditions contribute to the relationship of migraine and TBI with cognitive symptoms.

backgroundMigraine contributes significantly to global disability, with veterans facing additional burdens due to high comorbidity of TBI and psychiatric conditions. Understanding the intersection of these conditions is crucial for improving veterans' health-care outcomes.

methodsThis observational study used self-reported data from 338,217 veterans enrolled in the Million Veteran Program (MVP) to assess cognitive symptoms using the Medical Outcomes Study Cognitive Functioning Scale Revised (MOS-Cog-R) and psychiatric conditions in veterans with migraine only, TBI only, both, or neither.

resultsOf the participants, 30,080/338,217 (8.9%) veterans reported migraine, 31,906/338,217 (9.4%) reported TBI, and 7828/338,217 (2.3%) reported both migraine and TBI. Veterans with only migraine or only TBI reported similar levels of cognitive symptoms (M = 74.19, standard deviation [SD] = 25.18; M = 73.87, SD = 24.98, respectively), which were substantially higher than veterans without these conditions (M = 62.52, SD = 27.90). Veterans with both conditions reported the most cognitive symptoms (M = 83.01, SD = 22.13) and psychiatric conditions (depression = 5041/7828 [64.4%], anxiety = 3735/7828 [47.7%], post-traumatic stress disorder = 4243/7828 [54.2%]). The association of migraine and TBI with cognitive symptoms persisted beyond the influence of psychiatric conditions (B = -2.20, standard error = -0.36, p < 0.001).

conclusionVeterans with migraine reported cognitive challenges analogous to veterans with TBI, indicating a need for careful attention to cognitive symptoms in veterans with migraine. Further, the associations of migraine and TBI with cognitive symptoms in veterans were not explained by psychiatric conditions. These findings encourage future research to elucidate the association between self-reported and objective cognitive symptoms and to identify factors, including environmental exposure and genetic influences, contributing to cognitive impairment to optimize the assessment and treatment of veterans with migraine.

Indexed as

Brain Injuries, TraumaticCognitive DysfunctionMigraine DisordersVeteransAdultAgedComorbidityFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSelf ReportUnited Statescognitive functionmigraine headacheMillion Veteran Programpost‐traumatic stress disordertraumatic brain injury

Identifiers

PMID39193854
PMCPMC11884220

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.