Ibrahim Krenawi¹* and Mimoun Azizi²

¹Consultant Neurologist, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, UAE
²Chief Physician, Senior Consultant Neurologist and Neurogeriatrician, Klinikverbund Südwest, Sindelfingen, Germany

*Corresponding Author: Ibrahim Krenawi, Consultant Neurologist, Burjeel Royal Hospital, Al Ain, UAE.

Received: September 01, 2025; Published: September 24, 2025

Abstract

Migraine and ischemic stroke are clinically distinct neurological disorders that share overlapping vascular and pathophysiological mechanisms. Migraine, especially with aura, has been observed to correlate with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke, a relationship that holds significant clinical relevance, especially in younger patients and women with additional vascular risk factors such as smoking or estrogen-containing contraceptive use.

The pathogenesis of this connection is multifactorial and not fully described. Some of the suggested mechanisms include cortical spreading depression (CSD), which results in transient cerebral hypoperfusion; endothelial dysfunction that contributes to a prothrombotic state; different cerebrovascular reactivity components; and the possible contribution of paradoxical embolism in patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO). White matter hyperintensities evident on neuroimaging among migraineurs are additional structural changes that indicate a microvascular component that is chronic.

Methods: This narrative review synthesizes the existing literature on the relationship between migraine and ischemic stroke, focusing on epidemiological data, proposed mechanism, and clinical management strategies, including migrainous infarction. This article is intended to assist evidence-based, clinical decision-making that is informed by neurovascular.

Keywords: Migraine and Ischemic Stroke; Ischemic stroke; Migraine; Mechanism of Ischemic Stroke; A Neurovascular Perspective; Connection Between Migraine and Ischemic Stroke

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Citation

Citation: Ibrahim Krenawi and Mimoun Azizi. “Assessing the Connection Between Migraine and Ischemic Stroke".Acta Scientific Neurology 8.10 (2025): 31-40.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Ibrahim Krenawi and Mimoun Azizi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.