How Early Life Stress Affects Migraine Risk
Key Questions
- What are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and how has the definition evolved?
- What is the association between ACEs and the risk of migraine or headache disorders in adulthood?
- Do adverse childhood experiences have a biological, not just psychological, impact on neurodevelopment that predisposes a child to migraines?
- Is there evidence that certain developmental periods are more vulnerable to the effects of adverse childhood experiences on headache or migraine risk?
- How does a parent’s history of chronic pain or mental health conditions influence their child’s risk of migraine?
- In pediatric and adult migraine care, what does an effective, sensitive screening process for psychosocial stressors look like in clinical practice?
- Are there additional clinical considerations for children or adults with migraine who have a history of adverse childhood experiences?
- What research over the next decade could help clarify links between early adversity and migraine?
Serena Laura Orr, MD, MSc
Associate Professor of Pediatrics | Pediatric Neurologist
University of Calgary | Alberta Children's Hospital
Dr. Serena Orr is associate professor of pediatrics, community health sciences, and clinical neurosciences at the University of Calgary, and an attending pediatric neurologist at the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH). She is a clinician-scientist and is principal investigator of the Pediatric Headache Research Lab. She also directs the Pediatric Headache Program in the Section of Neurology at ACH.
Her main research interest is in furthering our understanding of migraine in children and adolescents. Specifically, she is interested in improving our knowledge of how to optimize acute migraine treatment, both at home and in the emergency department. She leads clinical trials and is interested in novel neuromodulation and technology-based solutions for treating migraine. Dr. Orr is also interested in the relationship between migraine and mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression) and in how this relationship may help us to better understand migraine etiology and biology.
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Miles for Migraine is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of improving the lives of people with migraine and other headache disorders, and their families, by raising public awareness about this disease, and helping to find a cure. Miles for Migraine produces fun walk/run events, typically a 2-mile walk and 5K and 10K races to raise money for migraine research. We also host adult education days, and a youth program for kids and teens impacted by migraine and other headache disorders.
