Can Long COVID Cause Migraine or Make it Worse?
Key Questions
- How can viral or bacterial infections trigger the onset or worsening of migraine disease?
- What does the link between infection and migraine disease reveal about the immune system and the brain?
- What has research observed regarding new or worsened migraine symptoms following COVID-19 infection? Do these symptoms improve over time?
- Can long COVID cause changes in migraine type, such as from episodic to chronic or from classic to vestibular migraine?
- Does having chronic migraine increase the risk of long COVID or other neurological symptoms?
- How should individuals with migraine disease approach COVID-19 vaccination, and is it considered safe and beneficial?
- Are there shared underlying mechanisms between long COVID–related migraine disease and conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or autonomic dysfunction (e.g., POTS)?
- For those whose migraine disease began or worsened after COVID-19 infection, are standard treatments still effective?
- What is the role of pacing, rest, and rehabilitation in managing fatigue and brain fog alongside migraine disease, and how is “energy” defined in this context?
- What areas of ongoing research offer hope for improving migraine care and understanding long COVID?
- What message of reassurance or hope can be offered to people whose migraine started or worsened after COVID-19 infection?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
Head of the Neurology Department
Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Institute of Research
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD, is a neurologist and one of Europe’s leading migraine experts. She leads the Neurology Department at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona and directs the Migraine Adaptive Brain Center, a national reference center focused on advancing migraine research and care. She also heads the Headache Research Laboratory at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research (VHIR) and serves as president-elect of the International Headache Society.
Dr. Pozo-Rosich is deeply committed to helping people understand migraine as a complex neurological disorder and improving access to effective treatment. She founded the Spanish-language education site MiDolordeCabeza.org and has authored more than 250 scientific publications. Her work has received multiple national awards, and she serves as associate editor for leading headache journals. She has been principal investigator in more than 100 clinical trials and is an active member of international headache genetics consortiums.
Interviews from Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
European Headache Treatment Update
Navigating COVID with Migraine in Europe
How Pain Works in the Migraine Brain
How to Get the Most from Your Doctor
Solving the Puzzle of What’s Causing Migraines
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The American Migraine Foundation (AMF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of research and awareness surrounding migraine, a disabling condition that impacts more than 37 million men, women and children in the United States. The AMF was founded in 2010 to provide global access to information and resources for individuals with migraine as well as their family and friends.
