Abstract Details

Title Executive Function in Adolescents with Chronic Headache: A Population Study

Topic Headache

Presentation(s) S1 - Headache 1 (2:12 PM-2:24 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 007

Background Executive functions (EF) is a set of mental abilities which regulate our cognition, emotions and behavior.

Objective To compare Executive Function (EF) skills in adolescents with chronic headache and non-headache controls, exploring the predictors of low executive functioning as a function of headache frequency.

Design/Methods Of 422 adolescents identified as the target sample, consents were obtained from 394 (93.4%), and analyzable data were provided by 339 (80.3%). Validated questionnaires were applied to the adolescents, their parents and teachers. EF were assessed by the Executive Functions Inventory for Children and Adolescents, a functional rating scale that provides the following three general indexes: the total EF (hot EF plus cool EF), hot EF (flexibleness, inhibiting, and emotional regulation), and cool EF (goal-directed behavior, planning, organizing, initiating, attention, persistence, self-monitoring, and working memory). Headache diagnosis was based on the 3rd Edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders. Multivariate models estimated the determinants of low executive functioning as a function of headache frequency. Relative risks (RR) were modeled using univariate and multivariate analyzes.

Results Compared to non-headache controls, adolescents with episodic migraine (EM) showed a higher risk of having an abnormal total EF index (RR = 3.5, CI 95% 1.2-10.1), as well as those with high frequency headache (HFH, more than 10 headache attacks per month) (RR = 4.9, CI 95% 1.2-20.6). In the multivariate models, the association of high frequency headache and low EF in the adolescents were independently predicted by lower socioeconomic status, lower school performance, and attacks of headache with vomiting (p < 0.05).

Conclusions Adolescents with EM and/or HFH have a higher risk of executive dysfunction. These original findings may contribute to a better understanding of headache comorbidities, as well as to identify new targets in the treatment of these patients.

Authors/Disclosures
Renato Arruda, MD (Instituto Glia) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Marco A. Arruda, MD, PhD (Glia Institute)	No disclosure on file

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