From blast to bench: a translational mini-review of post-traumatic headache

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience research Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 1347 - 1354
• Main Authors: Moye, Laura S, Pradhan, Amynah A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 02-02-2017
• ISSN: 0360-4012; 1097-4547
• DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24001

Current events within the military and professional sports have resulted in an increased recognition of the long-term and debilitating consequences of traumatic brain injury. Mild traumatic brain injury accounts for the majority of head injuries, and post-traumatic headache is the most common adverse effect. It is estimated that between 30–90% of traumatic brain injuries result in post-traumatic headache, and for a significant number of people this headache disorder can continue for up to and over a year post-injury. Often, the most severe and chronic post-traumatic headache has a migraine-like phenotype, and is difficult to resolve. In this review we discuss the preclinical findings from animal models of post-traumatic headache. We also describe potential mechanisms by which traumatic brain injury leads to chronic post-traumatic headache, including neuroinflammatory mediators and migraine-associated neuropeptides. There are surprisingly few preclinical studies that have investigated overlapping mechanisms between post-traumatic headache and migraine, especially considering the prevalence and debilitating nature of post-traumatic headache. Given this context, post-traumatic headache is a field with many emerging opportunities for growth. The frequency of post-traumatic headache in the general and military population is staggeringly high, and further preclinical research is required to understand, ameliorate, and treat this disabling disorder.