Central generators of migraine and autonomic cephalalgias as targets for personalized pain management: Translational links

Background and objective: Migraine oscillates between different states in association with internal homeostatic functions and biological rhythms that become more easily dysregulated in genetically susceptible individuals. Clinical and pre-clinical data on migraine pathophysiology support a primary role of the central nervous system (CNS) through 'dysexcitability' of certain brain networks, and a critical contribution of the peripheral sensory and autonomic signalling from the intracranial meningeal innervation. This review focuses on the most relevant back and forward translational studies devoted to the assessment of CNS dysfunctions involved in primary headaches and discusses the role they play in rendering the brain susceptible to headache states.

Methods and results: We collected a body of scientific literature from human and animal investigations that provide a compelling perspective on the anatomical and functional underpinnings of the CNS in migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. We focus on medullary, hypothalamic and corticofugal modulation mechanisms that represent strategic neural substrates for elucidating the links between trigeminovascular maladaptive states, migraine triggering and the temporal phenotype of the disease.

Conclusion: It is argued that a better understanding of homeostatic dysfunctional states appears fundamental and may benefit the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for improving clinical outcomes in primary headache disorders.

Significance: This review focuses on the most relevant back and forward translational studies showing the crucial role of top-down brain modulation in triggering and maintaining primary headache states and how these central dysfunctions may interact with personalized pain management strategies.