Pandemic-Related Depression Risk Surged in Older Adults With Migraine During COVID-19

A longitudinal study, published in the Journal of Pain Research, examined depression rates in more than 2,000 older adults with migraine from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The findings revealed that over one in seven individuals experienced depression for the first time during the pandemic. Additionally, nearly half of those with a prior history of depression reported a recurrence during this period. These results emphasize the heightened vulnerability of older adults with migraine to adverse mental health outcomes during times of crisis.

Family Conflict and Healthcare Disruptions Among Key Risk Factors

The study identified several pandemic-related factors that contributed to the rise in depression risk. Increased family conflict was a major driver, with researchers reporting a five-fold increase in the risk of new-onset depression and a three-fold increase in recurrent depression for individuals experiencing heightened familial discord during lockdowns.

"Many families experienced increased discord and conflict during periods of lockdown, which were coupled by declines in access to important coping mechanisms that can mitigate family stress, such as physical activity outside and time spent socializing with friends. This likely impacted the mental health challenges observed during the pandemic," said co-author Andie MacNeil, a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

Challenges in accessing healthcare also played a significant role. "Access to comprehensive healthcare was already recognized as a major challenge for people with migraine prior to the pandemic," explained Aneisha Taunque, a research assistant at the Institute for Life Course and Aging. "We know access to healthcare worsened during the pandemic, which may have exacerbated mental health challenges among this population."

Additionally, increased caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic doubled the risk of depression in some individuals. Co-author Ying Jiang, Senior Epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada, noted that caregiving responsibilities can be particularly challenging for individuals living with debilitating conditions like migraine, which may have worsened during the pandemic.

Implications for Mental Health Screening and Interventions

This study underscores the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions for older adults with migraine. The findings highlight how pandemic-related stressors—including family conflict, caregiving responsibilities, and disruptions to healthcare—can amplify vulnerability to depression in those managing chronic pain.

Ongoing research will be crucial to understanding whether these trends were temporary or have persisted beyond the pandemic. "It will be important to identify if the observed increases were a temporary occurrence due to pandemic-related stressors, or if these trends have persisted after the pandemic," said senior author Esme Fuller-Thomson, director of the University of Toronto’s Institute for Life Course and Aging.

These findings emphasize the importance of mental health support for at-risk populations, particularly during periods of significant societal disruption. By addressing the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, healthcare providers can improve outcomes for vulnerable individuals living with migraine and other chronic conditions.