Chronic migraine is a common episodic brain dysfunction disorder, which often progresses from migraine and is frequently accompanied by sleep disorders, anxiety, depression or obesity. Extensive connections exist between the hypothalamus and other components of the central nervous system; through integrating pain signals, neural conduction and inflammatory pathways, the hypothalamus becomes an important hub for migraine chronicization. This review, combined with clinical imaging evidence, analyzes the pathogenic mechanisms of chronic migraine and its complications from perspective of the hypothalamus as the higher neural center, so as to provide useful references for prevention and treatment of chronic migraine.

Chronic migraine is a common episodic brain dysfunction disorder, which often progresses from migraine and is frequently accompanied by sleep disorders, anxiety, depression or obesity. Extensive connections exist between the hypothalamus and other components of the central nervous system; through integrating pain signals, neural conduction and inflammatory pathways, the hypothalamus becomes an important hub for migraine chronicization. This review, combined with clinical imaging evidence, analyzes the pathogenic mechanisms of chronic migraine and its complications from perspective of the hypothalamus as the higher neural center, so as to provide useful references for prevention and treatment of chronic migraine.