Assessing the relationships between migraine and driving risks, challenges and coping strategies.

Genc, H; Ghouri, R; Ozdemir, AA; Ozge, A; Dikmen, PY; Ekizoglu, E; Uc, EY; Tasdelen, B; Bolay, H; Baykan, B; Mig-Drive Study Group · 2026 · PubMed Central

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-53327-4

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Summary

This study investigates the under-recognized disability and safety risks associated with driving for individuals diagnosed with migraine. Motivated by the cognitive, visual, and vestibular impairments inherent to migraine attacks, the research aims to quantify driving cessation rates, accident frequencies, and the specific coping strategies employed by patients. The authors sought to determine how migraine subtypes and accompanying symptoms influence driving sensitivity and safety outcomes, addressing a gap in clinical understanding regarding this specific daily activity. The Mig-Drive Study employed a multicenter, cross-sectional design involving 2,522 screened patients, of whom 1,333 active drivers (mean age 36.75 years; 64.4% female) were included. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews conducted by 57 neurologists using a structured questionnaire based on the "Driving Habits Questionnaire." Participants were categorized into subgroups including migraine with/without aura, episodic/chronic migraine, and those with/without vestibular migraine. The study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze causal relationships between migraine characteristics, road condition sensitivity, driving-related headaches, accident probability, and driving cessation. Key findings indicate that 70.6% of participants experienced at least one headache while driving, with headaches occurring in 13% of all driving sessions. While only 1.7% of patients ceased driving entirely due to migraine, 9.2% reduced their driving frequency. Headaches during driving were significantly associated with decreased attention (69%), restlessness (66%), and nervousness (56%). Common coping strategies included using analgesics or triptans (58.8%), turning off music (51.9%), and wearing sunglasses (47.7%). SEM analysis revealed that migraine characteristics positively influenced driving-related headaches, which in turn increased sensitivity to road conditions, thereby indirectly increasing accident risk. Drivers with vestibular migraine and chronic migraine showed distinct patterns of sensitivity and cessation, with chronic migraine patients experiencing a higher proportion of accidents during headache attacks (96.9%) compared to episodic migraine patients (77.2%). The study concludes that migraine poses a significant, often underappreciated threat to driving safety and quality of life. The findings highlight that sensory processing deficits and symptom burden directly impair driving performance, particularly under specific road and weather conditions. The authors argue that raising awareness among clinicians and policymakers about these impairments is crucial. Enhancing coping mechanisms and recognizing driving as a domain of disability in migraine care could help reduce preventable risks and improve patient outcomes.

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Topics

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• mci dementia driving
• passenger motion sickness comfort
• simulator sickness