Based on PubMed | Is headache a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease, and what types of headache are most often associated with it?

Headache is not considered a core or common symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but it can occur in some people with PD for several reasons. Overall, studies suggest people with PD have a similar or even lower overall prevalence of headaches compared with the general population, though migraine may be relatively more represented among those who do have headaches. ^[1] In one clinic-based comparison, people with PD had fewer headaches over the prior year and across their lifetime than matched controls, yet among PD patients who did experience headache, migraine occurred more often than tension-type headache. ^[1]

How common is headache in PD?

• Research surveying PD populations shows mixed findings but generally does not support headache as a frequent PD non‑motor symptom. ^[2] In a questionnaire study, overall headache prevalence in PD did not differ from controls, although male PD patients had a higher prevalence of moderate to severe migraine than male controls. ^[2]
• Another study found PD patients had lower lifetime and one‑year headache prevalence versus controls, with a relative shift toward migraine among PD patients who did report headaches. ^[1]

Headache types linked with PD

• Migraine: Among PD patients with headaches, migraine appears more commonly reported than tension-type headache, compared with controls. ^[1]
• Laterality association: Headache side may align with the initial side of PD motor symptom onset; in one series, the headache was ipsilateral to PD onset side in a large majority of cases. ^[1]
• Procedure-related headaches: PD evaluations that involve a lumbar puncture (for tests such as alpha‑synuclein seed amplification assays) can cause post‑lumbar puncture headaches, which typically worsen when upright and improve when lying down. ^[3] Over-the-counter pain relievers may be recommended, and severe cases warrant clinical contact. ^[4]

Medication-related headaches in PD

• MAO‑B inhibitors (for PD treatment) can cause headaches as a side effect, along with nausea, insomnia, and confusion. ^[5] When combined with levodopa, they may also increase the risk of hallucinations, so medication plans should be reviewed carefully to balance benefits and side effects. ^[6]

Why headaches happen in PD

Headaches in someone with PD may arise from:

• Preexisting primary headache disorders (for example, migraine), which can continue or change after PD onset. ^[1]
• Medication side effects (notably MAO‑B inhibitors). ^[5]
• Post‑procedure causes (such as post‑lumbar puncture headache). ^[3]
  These pathways suggest headaches in PD are more often comorbid or iatrogenic rather than a direct, common symptom of PD itself. ^{[1] [2]}

Practical management considerations

• Characterize the headache: Identify migraine features (throbbing pain, sensitivity to light/sound, nausea), tension-type features (pressure-like, band-like), triggers, and laterality. ^[1]
• Review medications: Consider whether a new or adjusted PD medication could be contributing to headache, particularly MAO‑B inhibitors. ^[5] Discuss changes with a clinician if a temporal relationship is suspected. ^[6]
• Address procedure-related headaches: If recent lumbar puncture was performed, rest, hydration, and appropriate analgesics may help; severe or persistent cases need medical attention. ^{[3] [4]}
• Coordinate care: Treatment plans for migraine or other headaches should be chosen with PD therapy in mind, to avoid drug interactions (for example, certain antidepressants or pain medicines may interact with MAO‑B inhibitors). ^[6]

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Summary table: Headache and Parkinson’s disease

Aspect	What studies suggest	Notes
Overall headache prevalence in PD	Similar or lower than controls	PD is not typically associated with increased overall headache burden. [2] [1]
Migraine vs. tension-type in PD	Migraine relatively more represented among PD patients who have headache	Shift toward migraine compared with controls among PD patients reporting headaches. [1]
Headache laterality	Often ipsilateral to PD motor onset side	Not universal, but a notable association in one study. [1]
Medication-related	MAO‑B inhibitors can cause headache	Monitor timing and interactions with other drugs. [5] [6]
Procedure-related	Post‑lumbar puncture headache can occur	Worsens when upright, improves lying down; seek care if severe. [3] [4]

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Bottom line

• Headache is not a common or defining PD symptom, and many people with PD have fewer headaches than peers without PD. ^{[2] [1]}
• When headaches do occur in PD, migraine is relatively more common than tension-type headache among those affected. ^[1]
• Medication side effects and medical procedures can contribute to headaches in PD, so evaluating timing, triggers, and treatments is important. ^{[5] [3] [6] [4]}

Would you like help reviewing your current PD medications and any recent procedures to see if they could be related to your headaches?