Altered brain connectivity in posttraumatic headache: insights into potential biomarkers and neuroplasticity
This article was initially published in the 7/18/24 edition of our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
Research published in the Journal of Headache and Pain reveals altered connectivity between certain brain regions in patients with posttraumatic headache (PTH) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Yishi Wang et al. reported that mTBI patients with PTH exhibit both increased and decreased connectivity between brain regions responsible for pain processing and sensorimotor tasks when compared to mTBI patients without headache. These connectivity alterations correlated with headache characteristics, suggesting brain connectivity alterations play a role in PTH pathophysiology. The study authors suggest these connectivity measures potentially serve as biomarkers for early PTH diagnosis and tracking disease progression. Moreover, they highlight the role of neuroplasticity, conveying that the brain’s ability to reorganize itself may offer hope for alternative therapeutic strategies.
The study assessed 94 mTBI patients using arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion MRI, a type of imaging that measures blood flow in the brain. Blood flow is a proxy for functional connectivity (FC) because regions with synchronized activity often have similar blood flow patterns. The authors found that changes in blood flow (and therefore FC) in the insular subregions of patients with PTH were associated with headache intensity and frequency. Patients with PTH exhibit both increases and decreases in connectivity of insular subregions, mainly pain processing and sensorimotor areas.
The authors highlight the potential for neuroplasticity after PTH, suggesting that the observed changes in FC might reflect the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, which may offer hope for alternative therapeutic strategies. Some limitations of the study include a small sample size and lack of a healthy control group. More studies are recommended to assess the correlation between differences in connectivity based on PTH development.
Concussion Alliance has covered studies regarding photobiomodulation and its effect on improving functional connectivity in individuals with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Here is our blog post about a case-series report published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Reports, which involves four former football players with CTE-like symptoms showing significant cognitive and mood improvements after treatment with transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM), which is a specific light therapy. Here is our blog post about another related study published in Frontiers in Neurology, where a 23-year-old professional hockey player with persistent post-concussive symptoms conveyed structural and functional improvements in brain scans and neuropsychological tests after an 8-week home-use light therapy treatment using Vielight devices.