Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40770287›Full record

ArticleThe journal of headache and pain2025

Atrophy of hypothalamic subregions increases migraine risk: cross-sectional study and mendelian randomization analysis.

Zhonghua Xiong, Lei Zhao, Geyu Liu, Dong Qiu, Yanliang Mei, Xiaoshuang Li, Zhi Guo, Peng Zhang, Mantian Zhang, Tianshuang Gao and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of headache and pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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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

13 authors.

Zhonghua Xiong *Department of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Lei Zhao *Key Lab of Cognitive Science and Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, China.
Geyu LiuDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Dong QiuDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Yanliang MeiDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Xiaoshuang LiDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Zhi GuoDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Peng ZhangDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Mantian ZhangDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Tianshuang GaoDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Jinju SunDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Xin LiuDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
Yonggang WangDepartment of Neurology, Headache Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China. w100yg@gmail.com.

Funding

Beijing Natural Science Foundation F252058Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China U24A20683National Key Research and Development Program of China 2024YFC2510100National Natural Science Foundation of China 32170752
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe hypothalamus is a versatile structure comprising several nuclei that play key roles in regulating various biological processes associated with migraine, including hormone secretion, metabolism, circadian rhythm, and autonomic nervous system functions. However, the involvement of hypothalamic subregions in migraine remains unclear.

methodsBased on T1-weighted MRI data from 76 migraine patients (23 episodic migraine [EM], 53 chronic migraine [CM]) and 35 healthy controls (HCs), we examined group differences in the volume of five hypothalamic subregions. To clarify causal relationships between migraine and hypothalamic volume, we conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Mediation analysis was further performed to assess the role of gut microbiota composition in this association.

resultsCompared to HCs, migraine patients exhibited significantly reduced total hypothalamic volume (813.53 ± 66.46 mm³ vs. 831.86 ± 57.91 mm³; FDR q = 0.048) and inferior tuberal hypothalamic volume (255.26 ± 30.17 mm³ vs. 265.29 ± 23.32 mm³; FDR q = 0.046). These reductions were particularly pronounced in patients with CM, whereas no significant differences were observed in those with EM. MR analysis revealed causal effects of total hypothalamic volumes (OR = 0.80, FDR q = 7.28 × 10

conclusionsThis study suggests that atrophy of the inferior tuberal subregion of the hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in increasing migraine risk, and that this effect is partially mediated through alterations in gut microbiome composition.

Indexed as

HypothalamusMigraine DisordersAdultAtrophyCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMendelian Randomization AnalysisMiddle AgedGut MicrobiomeHypothalamus subregionsMendelian randomizationMigraineMRI

Identifiers

PMID40770287
PMCPMC12326839

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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.