Pain in the brain in the female athlete
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Chronic headache affects approximately 40% of the global population, representing a significant global burden. Often marked by persistent pain, chronic headache can severely impact an individual’s quality of life, and prolonged exposure to chronic pain is known to alter the central nervous system. The hypothalamus, a brain region involved in many physiological functions, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of pain modulation in chronic headache. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of the hypothalamus in pain perception through a combination of psychological pain questionnaires (CSI, PQS, HIT-6) and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in individuals with chronic headache and pain-free, healthy controls. A total of 74 participants, including 22 controls and 52 with chronic headaches, were recruited. Participants with chronic headaches reported higher levels of pain and significant disruptions to daily life. Correlational analysis by sex revealed associations between pain- related questionnaire data and specific regions of the hypothalamus, including the left anterior superior, tubular superior, and inferior areas. These regions are linked to hormonal regulation, which can influence the intensity of chronic headache pain. Future research can be directed towards functional MRI to understand the relationship between structure and function
Description
2025