Migraines change brain but don't affect cognition

People who suffer from migraines and severe headaches do show changes to their brain over time but don't show symptoms of cognitive decline. Researchers from Inserm and the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris studied 780 people over 65. They studied them over 10 years using MRI (magnetic-resonance imaging) brain scans and performed cognitive tests of their 'orientation in time and space,' short-term memory and capacity and speed to correctly carry out specific tasks. The results showed that 21% of the sample suffered from severe headaches of whom 70% had migraine. The MRI scans showed that those who suffered with headaches were twice as likely to 'have a large quantity of microvascular brain lesions.' However, there was no difference in cognitive function between those with and without headaches.