Sleep, headaches and cerebral energy control: a synoptic view

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The amount of cerebral functions is particularly elevated. This intense activity requires a great expenditure of energy: the restoration of energy is the fundamental function of sleep whilst the slowdown in energy consumption may be considered the physiological effect of primary headaches. The continuous interaction of sleep and primary headaches is possible as they share many anatomical and functional cerebral systems.

Areas covered: This review describes how sleep and headaches are reciprocally involved in preservation and restoration of brain energy. Data were obtained from the most relevant and recent works available in PubMed about this topic.

Expert commentary: The energetic view of sleep, primary headaches and their relationship may have relevant clinical consequences: the investigation and the modification of the multiple aspects, primarily environmental, that may influence sleep and headache, become mandatory to facilitate the cerebral energy preservation by reducing its consumption and by ensuring its recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Sleep
• headache
• migraine
• brain energy
• allodynia

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.