PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session II. - L: Mental Health Sciences

Hypothalamic connectivity strength is decreasing with polygenic risk in migraine patients

Name of the presenter

Németh Anna

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Mental Health Institute of Semmelweis Doctoral College

Authors

Anna Németh¹, Kinga Gecse², Dóra Török², Dániel Baksa³, Csaba Sándor Aranyi⁴, Miklós Emri⁴, György Bagdy², Gabriella Juhász²

1: Mental Health Institute of Semmelweis Doctoral College
2: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. ; Center of Pharmacology and Drug Research & Development, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary ; NAP3.0-SE Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
3: Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. ; Center of Pharmacology and Drug Research & Development, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary ; NAP3.0-SE Neuropsychopharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. ; Department of Personality and Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary.
4: Division of Nuclear Medicine and Translational Imaging, Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Migraine is a complex neurological disorder. Its intricate pathophysiological background has been widely studied and can be broken down into numerous contributing factors. Genetic factors, among others, may play a prominent role in the development of migraine, and their complex assessment can involve the calculation of a polygenic risk score (PRS). In addition, altered activity in several brain regions, including the hypothalamus (HYPT), has also been observed. Previous studies have demonstrated changes in HYPT activity and its functional connectivity (FC) during the migraine cycle.
Aim: In our research, we examined these two potential biomarkers and their possible relationship.
Methods: In our study, we included 35 migraine patients and 38 healthy controls. Genetic predisposition was measured using polygenic risk scores (PRS), based on two different GWAS models: PRSALL, which includes all migraine patients, and PRSFIRST, calculated from individuals with migraine as their primary diagnosis. We examined whether there was a significant difference in PRS between migraine patients and healthy individuals. Brain functional connectivity was assessed using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The connectivity network of the hypothalamus (HYPT) was analyzed using seed-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis.
Results: Both PRSALL and PRSFIRST showed significant differences between the two groups; however, in the case of PRSALL, the genetic risk was higher in healthy individuals than in migraine patients within our population. Furthermore, PRSALL and PRSFIRST exhibited different connectivity patterns but showed a similar trend in relation to HYPT functional connectivity (FC). In both cases, an increase in PRS was associated with hypoconnectivity of the HYPT.
Conclusion: In relation to PRSALL, the HYPT showed reduced connectivity with brain regions involved in pain modulation, while PRSFIRST indicated weakened connectivity between the HYPT and sensory as well as integrative brain regions.
Founding: UNKP-23-4-I-SE-31;2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002,NAP2022-I-4/2022;TKP2021-EGA-25;OTKA(K143391);ERA PerMed(2019-2.1.7-ERA-NET-2020-00005),EKÖP-2024-164, EKÖP-2024-68