{
  "abstract": "BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and migraine frequently co-occur, but the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Examining migraine with aura and without aura separately may help clarify whether ADHD-related pathways are shared across migraine subtypes or differ by aura status.\n\nMethodsTwo-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to examine the effect of genetic liability to ADHD on overall migraine and on migraine subtypes defined by aura status. MR-based mediation was then used to assess whether behavioural, psychiatric, sleep-related, education, and cardiometabolic traits contribute to these effects.\n\nResultsMR provided evidence for an effect of ADHD genetic liability on overall migraine risk (OR = 1.48, 95% CI =1.2, 1.82), with similar effect sizes for migraine with aura (MA) (OR=1.52, 95% CI = 1.18, 1.96) and migraine without aura (MO) (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.19, 2.31). Depression, alcohol intake frequency, lifetime smoking index, ever smoke, risk taking behaviours, insomnia, and college education showed evidence for partial mediation, explaining approximately 34.17% (95% CI = 6.17%, 61.63%), 14.44% (95% CI = 0%, 28.87%), 37.25% (95% CI = 11.86%, 63.64%), and 29.24% (95% CI = 6.12%, 52.37%) of the total effect, individually. Subtype analyses suggested broadly similar patterns across MA and MO, with no clear subtype-specific differences.\n\nConclusionOur findings provide evidence that ADHD common variant genetic liability increases migraine risk, including both MA and MO. The association appears unlikely to be explained by a single pathway and may involve the contribution of depression-related, lifestyle-related, and education-related processes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Bristol"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Y. Luo"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Dardani"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. E. Wootton"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Sanderson"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Stergiakouli"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7y8mvwwbqh3r6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527v1.full",
  "id": "7y8mvwwbqh3r6",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "epidemiology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2738|Migraine and Headache Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7212292443",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-08",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7y8mvwwbqh3r6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:19Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.08.26362527v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:epidemiology",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Genetic liability to ADHD and migraine risk: Mendelian randomization evidence for behavioural and psychiatric pathways",
  "title_text": "Genetic liability to ADHD and migraine risk: Mendelian randomization evidence for behavioural and psychiatric pathways",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:19Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7y8mvwwbqh3r6",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}