Migraine and hypersomnia disorders

Abstract

Migraine is a common neurological disorder, negatively affecting activities of daily living. Patients with migraine frequently show daytime sleepiness and insomnia. Sleep disturbances worsen headache, while sleep ameliorates headache. We have previously reported increased prevalence of restless legs syndrome and dream enacting behavior in migraine patients. Hypersomnia disorders, including narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia, are characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness not caused by disturbed nocturnal sleep or impaired circadian rhythms. Previous studies showed increased prevalence of migraine in patients with narcolepsy compared with healthy controls. In our multicenter study, migraine was more frequently observed in patients with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia compared with healthy controls. These findings may suggest pathophysiological similarities between migraine and hypersomnia disorders.