What Role Do Migraines Play In The Development Of MS?

Migraines are known to be associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) and can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and other debilitating symptoms. Schoeps and colleagues sought to determine the role of migraines in the development of MS—specifically, whether migraines are a risk factor or a symptom of the disease. Structured interviews were conducted with 1,242 patients, divided into a control group of individuals with migraines but without MS, and an experimental group of individuals with migraines and MS, confirmed by the Classification of Headache Disorders criteria.

Results showed no association between migraines as a risk factor for MS; instead, migraines appear to be part of the wide range of symptoms triggered by the development of MS. In addition, pediatric-onset migraines were associated with decreased odds of developing MS later in life. The findings suggest reverse causality where poorly controlled inflammation from MS increases the risk of developing migraines, highlighting the need for further investigation of this relationship.

Common symptoms of migraine that further debilitate people with MS.

Reference: Schoeps, V. A., Smith, J. B., & Langer-Gould, A. (2025). Migraines, the multiple sclerosis prodrome, and multiple sclerosis susceptibility. Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 31(5), 539-547.

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