The evolving concept of multimorbidity and migraine.

Abstract

Migraine presents with high prevalence and similar clinical course with different disorders such as neurological, psychiatric, cardio- and cerebrovascular, gastrointestinal, metabolic-endocrine, and immunological conditions, which can often cooccur themselves. Multifaceted mechanisms subtend these comorbidities with a bidirectional link. First, a shared genetic load can explain the cooccurrence. Second, comorbid pathologies can promote disproportionate energetic needs, thalamocortical network dysexcitability, and systemic transient or persistent proinflammatory state, which may trigger the activation of a broad self-protective network that includes the trigeminovascular system in conjunction with the neuroendocrine hypothalamic system. This response results in maintenance of brain homeostasis by modulating subcortical-cortical excitability, energetic balance, osmoregulation, and emotional response. In this process, the CGRP is released in the trigeminovascular system. However, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays several actions also outside the brain to maintain the homeostatic needs and is involved in the physiological functions of different systems, whose disorders are associated with migraine. This aspect further increases the complexity of migraine treatment, where standard therapies often have systemic adverse effects. On the other hand, some preventives can improve comorbid conditions. In summary, we propose that migraine management should involve a multidisciplinary approach to identify and mitigate potential risk factors and comorbidity and tailor therapies individually.