Skip to main content

Older Adults With Migraine Experienced Higher Depression Risk During Pandemic

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 27, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Nov. 26, 2024 -- During the pandemic, older adults with migraine experienced a substantial increase in the risk for depression, regardless of previous history, than before the pandemic and compared with older adults without migraine, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in the Journal of Pain Research.

Andie MacNeil, from the University of Toronto, and colleagues examined the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of people with migraine. The analysis included data from four waves of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging's comprehensive cohort (2,181 with migraine).

The researchers found that older adults with migraine, both with and without a history of depression, experienced increases in depression during the pandemic versus before the pandemic and compared with older adults without migraine. Those who felt lonely and those who experienced an increase in family conflict during the pandemic had higher risk of incident and recurrent depression. Only those who experienced difficulty accessing health care and those who experienced other family challenges, such as increased caregiving responsibilities, had a higher risk for incident depression. Those who felt left out socially, those with functional limitations, and those whose income did not satisfy their basic needs had a higher risk for recurrent depression.

"Targeted interventions are needed to support the mental health of older adults with migraine," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

No Increase Seen in Neurodevelopmental Disorders With Prenatal Triptan Use

WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- Children prenatally exposed to different triptan intensities and duration, alone or in combination with other preventive medications for migraine, do...

Combinations of Chronic, Physical Illnesses Up the Risk of Subsequent Depression

WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 -- Certain groups of physical multimorbidity may be associated with a higher risk of subsequent depression, according to a study published online May 13...

Calorie Restrictions, Low-Fat Diets May Reduce Depressive Symptoms

MONDAY, May 19, 2025 -- Among adults with elevated cardiometabolic risk, calorie restrictions and low-fat diets may reduce depressive symptoms, according to a review published...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.