TY - JOUR
T1 - Headache in the Older Population
T2 - Causes, Diagnoses, and Treatments
AU - Robblee, Jennifer
AU - Singh, Rashmi Halker
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - Purpose of Review: Primary headaches are less common and differ in presentation in older versus younger individuals. Secondary headaches become more common among older patients. Recent Findings: Diagnosis and management of headaches in those > 65 years are discussed. Migraine and tension-type headaches are rarely new onset in this age group and should be a diagnosis of exclusion. In older individuals, migraine is more likely to be bilateral with less sensory sensitivities. Migraine aura may present without headache; careful assessment is needed to exclude stroke. Other primary headaches discussed include cough, hypnic, and other headaches. Secondary causes discussed include giant cell arteritis, trigeminal post-herpetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, cardiac cephalgia, cervicogenic pain, vascular etiologies, medications, and burning-mouth syndrome. Summary: In older individuals, primary headaches are diagnoses of exclusion, and treatment is affected by comorbidities and polypharmacy. Secondary headaches are a major consideration requiring appropriate workup. Many treatments can safely be offered regardless of age.
AB - Purpose of Review: Primary headaches are less common and differ in presentation in older versus younger individuals. Secondary headaches become more common among older patients. Recent Findings: Diagnosis and management of headaches in those > 65 years are discussed. Migraine and tension-type headaches are rarely new onset in this age group and should be a diagnosis of exclusion. In older individuals, migraine is more likely to be bilateral with less sensory sensitivities. Migraine aura may present without headache; careful assessment is needed to exclude stroke. Other primary headaches discussed include cough, hypnic, and other headaches. Secondary causes discussed include giant cell arteritis, trigeminal post-herpetic neuropathy, sleep apnea, cardiac cephalgia, cervicogenic pain, vascular etiologies, medications, and burning-mouth syndrome. Summary: In older individuals, primary headaches are diagnoses of exclusion, and treatment is affected by comorbidities and polypharmacy. Secondary headaches are a major consideration requiring appropriate workup. Many treatments can safely be offered regardless of age.
KW - Age
KW - Aged
KW - Elderly
KW - Headache
KW - Red flags
KW - Secondary headache
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U2 - 10.1007/s11916-020-00866-8
DO - 10.1007/s11916-020-00866-8
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32472308
AN - SCOPUS:85085707136
SN - 1531-3433
VL - 24
JO - Current pain and headache reports
JF - Current pain and headache reports
IS - 7
M1 - 34
ER -