Background: Chronic migraine is a major cause of disability, often associated with cognitive impairments affecting memory, attention, and executive functions. While such alterations have been described internationally, evidence in Latin America is limited. This study aimed to exploratorily characterize characterize neurocognitive alterations in Colombian patients with chronic migraine.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including adults diagnosed with chronic migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (2019). Patients were consecutively recruited at the Primary Headache Centre of Excellence between July 2023 and December 2024. Sociodemographic data and cognitive performance were assessed using validated instruments, including the Visual Analogue Scale, migraine disability and headache impact measures, Beck Depression Inventory-II, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, D2 Test of Attention, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Five Digits Test, Letter-Number Sequencing, Tower of Hanoi, Trail Making Test, and Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure.
Results: Thirty-two participants were included (96.9% female; mean age 43.4 years). Most reported severe pain and high migraine-related disability, with 68.8% showing severe headache impact. Depressive symptoms were mild to moderate, and anxiety levels were elevated. Cognitive assessment revealed scores below the cutoff of 26 in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, with moderate deficits in memory, attention, and executive functions, while recognition remained preserved. Pain intensity showed a positive correlation with the D2 Variation Index and negative correlations with verbal learning and executive function tasks.
Conclusion: Adults with chronic migraine present significant neurocognitive impairments, particularly in verbal learning and executive functions, with pain intensity playing a central role.
