Vestibular Migraine Revisited: A Narrative Review of Diagnostic Challenges and Treatment Strategies
Abstract
Vestibular migraine (VM) is a common yet frequently underdiagnosed neurological condition, marked by recurrent episodes of vertigo and other vestibular symptoms in association with migraine features. It predominantly affects women aged 30-50 years and has an estimated prevalence of 1%-5% in the general population. This narrative review explores current knowledge surrounding VM, including its epidemiology, proposed mechanisms, diagnostic complexities, and treatment approaches. The pathophysiology remains incompletely understood but may involve dysfunction in vestibule-cerebellar pathways, ion channel abnormalities, and trigeminal system activation. Diagnosing VM is clinically driven, requiring careful evaluation of vestibular complaints alongside migraine-associated symptoms. Patients commonly report vertigo and headaches, while clinical assessment may uncover ocular motor disturbances, canal paresis, and balance issues. Supplementary tests such as ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials can aid in diagnosis, though they are not definitive. Differential diagnosis is essential due to symptom overlap with other vestibular disorders like Ménière's disease, episodic ataxia type 2, and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Treatment includes acute interventions with vestibular suppressants and triptans, vestibular rehabilitation programs, and preventive pharmacotherapy such as β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and certain antidepressants. Despite these…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Calcium Ions in the Physiology and Pathology of the Central Nervous System
- AI-powered in silico twins: redefining precision medicine through simulation, personalization, and predictive healthcare
- In silico functional, structural and pathogenicity analysis of missense single nucleotide polymorphisms in human MCM6 gene
- In Silico drug repurposing pipeline using deep learning and structure based approaches in epilepsy
- Targeting serotonin receptors with phytochemicals – an in-silico study
- In silico exploration of anti-prostate cancer compounds from differential expressed genes
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.