Pandemic Impact: How COVID-19 Heightens Depression Risk in Older Adults with Migraines

A recent study from the University of Toronto examines how COVID-19 impacted the mental health of older adults living with migraines. Researchers studied over 2,000 older adults with migraines as part of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

The study found that more than 14% of these individuals experienced depression for the first time during the pandemic. Additionally, nearly 50% of those with a history of depression relapsed.

Esme Fuller-Thomson, the senior author of the study, noted that people with migraines are already vulnerable to depression and that the pandemic’s stressors, like disrupted medication access, likely worsened their mental health.

Increased family conflict during lockdowns raised the risk of new depression five-fold and recurrent depression three-fold. Co-author Andie MacNeil explained that lockdowns led to more family discord and reduced opportunities for activities that help manage stress.

Access to healthcare was a significant issue before the pandemic and worsened during it. Co-author Aneisha Taunque stated that this limited access may have increased mental health challenges for those with migraines.

Caregiving responsibilities also played a role. Increased caregiving demands were linked to a doubled risk of new depression. Co-author Ying Jiang pointed out how challenging caregiving can be for those already in pain from migraines.

The study involved other contributors, including Sarah Leo, Dr. Grace Li, and Margaret de Groh.

For further reading, see the research published in the Journal of Pain Research (MacNeil et al., 2024). DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s469798.