# Migraine Onset in Adolescent Girls

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $599,225

## Abstract

Project Summary
Migraine is one of the most common chronic pain conditions worldwide, but prevalence differs based on sex
and age, with prevalence of migraine being higher in females. In addition to female sex, family history of
migraine represents a further risk factor for migraine. However, the factors which contribute to or protect from
migraine onset remain uncharacterized, and it is not yet possible to predict whether an individual will
experience migraine onset, even among individuals with both risk factors. Thus, this study aims to investigate:
Aim 1 – identify the psychophysical and neural factors which can predict migraine onset in adolescent girls;
Aim 2a – determine the hormonal, psychophysical, and neural changes associated with migraine onset; and
Aim 2b – characterize the temporal relationships between hormonal, psychophysical, and neural changes
preceding vs. following migraine onset. Preliminary data support the use of psychophysical and neural factors
as predictors of migraine onset. In addition, changes in pain sensitivity and in the functional connectivity of the
amygdala are observed in patients with migraine and following changes in headache frequency, and thus
support the use of these assays for the investigation of longitudinal changes related to migraine onset. Study
participants will be healthy girls (age 10–13) with either a family history of migraine (Fam-His, N = 160) or with
no family history of migraine (No-Fam-His, N = 40). In this study, we will perform assessments of
psychophysical (pressure pain thresholds [PPT] and conditioned pain modulation [CPM]), neural (functional
connectivity [FC] of the amygdala), and hormonal (testosterone levels) factors at baseline, and at 1- and 2-year
follow-up time points. For all study visits, participants will also meet with a pediatric headache/pain specialist to
determine whether or not they meet the diagnosis criteria for migraine (participants meeting diagnosis criteria
at baseline will be excluded from the study). We hypothesize that a pre-existing pronociceptive
psychophysical (lower PPT and lower inhibitory capabilities) and neural (greater FC between the right-
amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex) profile at baseline will predispose Fam-His girls to migraine onset
during adolescence and can be used to predict this onset. We expect that after 2 years, Fam-His girls
diagnosed with migraine will have distinct psychophysical, neural, and hormonal changes as compared to
those with no migraine onset and No-Fam-His girls. Moreover, we predict that lower increase in testosterone
levels will precede migraine onset, while further transition towards a pronociceptive profile will be observed
after migraine onset (reduction in PPT and CPM responses, and increase in amygdala FC). Early identification
of individuals most likely to be diagnosed with migraine will facilitate the development of a precision medicine
approach, allowing for the implementation of early preventive strategies...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10750977
- **Project number:** 5R01NS129742-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Hadas Nahman-Averbuch
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $599,225
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-12-15 → 2027-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10750977

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10750977, Migraine Onset in Adolescent Girls (5R01NS129742-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10750977. Licensed CC0.

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