[Memory and attention deficit in migraine: overlooked symptoms].
AIM
To evaluate the prevalence of objective cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with episodic migraine (EM) during the interictal period and in the chronic migraine (CM) population.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
Sixty-four patients with CM and 42 patients with low-frequency EM (less than 4 headache days a month), aged 18-59, were enrolled. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Cognitive functions were evaluated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT).


RESULTS
In the CM group DSST and MoCA performance as well as the RAVLT total learning index were significantly decreased compared to EM; 38% of CM patients scored lower than 26 points of the MoCA scale. Negative correlations between headache frequency and DSST and MoCA results were observed. There was no correlation between cognitive test performance and anxiety/depression levels.


CONCLUSION
Patients with EM and CM present with objective CI. The prevalence and severity of cognitive deficits rise with increasing headache frequency.