Temporal, Environmental, and Genetic Factors Regulating Exercise and Migraine

Willing participants who are self-reported chronic migraineurs will complete an informed consent followed by a health risk questionnaire to determine study eligibility. Phase I: Chronic migraineurs will be screened using the Morningness/Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) to recruit a cohort of discrepant chronotypes (Definite Morning, Morning; and Evening, Definite Evening). Resulting participants will be complete a baseline migraine load evaluation and assigned to four weeks of moderate intensity exercise (60-70% estimated heart rate max, 2 x per week, 30-min/session) consolidated to either the morning (before 09:00) or afternoon (after 17:00) in a randomized cross-over design. Intensity will be tracked through a heart rate monitor that will be provided to participants, and an application that they can download to their phone. Participants will be able to keep the heart rate monitor upon completion of the study. An example of potential exercises will be provided to participants and research team members will check in every 1-2 weeks to see how exercise is progressing. Migraine burden will be assessed pre- and post-training after each condition using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and the short version of the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). Half of the participants will exercise for one month during a time of day that is in sync with their chronotype (i.e. Morning type person will exercise in the morning), and the other half of the participants will exercise at a time of day that is not in sync (i.e. Morning type person will exercise in the evening). There will be a one-month wash out period, and then participants will complete training at the other time of day. A buccal swab will be obtained (according to protocols outlined on our approved Institutional Biosafety Committee protocol) for phenotyping of genes specific to chronotype and migraine. Phase II will also recruit chronic ICHD-3 migraineurs. Participants will complete a baseline migraine load evaluation as described above. If an effect of chronotype is found in Phase I, participants will complete exercise training in sync with their chronotype. Participants will be randomly assigned to four weeks of moderate intensity aerobic exercise (60-70% estimated heart rate max, 2 x per week, 30-min/session) in either natural or indoor environments in a randomized cross-over design. Intensity will be tracked through a heart rate monitor that will be provided to participants, and an application that they can download to their phone. Participants will be able to keep the heart rate monitor upon completion of the study. An example of potential exercises will be provided to participants and research team members will check in every 1-2 weeks to see how exercise is progressing. A recent investigation provided evidence that activity performed in a desert environment provided the same benefits as in a green landscape with respect to both cardiovascular measures as well as perception of comfort, calm, and perceived stress. Half of the participants will exercise for one month in a natural environment that they select (outdoors in a park, or trail) and the other half will complete exercise indoors (participants will not require access to fitness facilities, although these could be used if they are already a member). There will be a one month wash out period, and then participants will complete exercise training in the other setting. Change in the monthly migraine load will be determined between environments. A buccal swab will be obtained for phenotyping of genes specific to chronotype and migraine. Buccal swab samples will be used to isolate DNA. Isolated DNA will be genotyped at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Genomics Core Facility using polymerase chain reaction and then disposed of. Genotypes will be linked to participant migraine load responses, and then reported in aggregate. The investigators plan to maintain regular contact with participants. After each exercise bout, participants will download and email the associated csv file which will be received, deidentified, and labelled with the participant identification number for digital storage at UNLV. In response, participants will be asked about the exercise sessions (with open ended questions such as "How do you feel the exercise sessions are going?"). The file will be reviewed upon receipt by a member of the research team to determine exercise intensity (60-70% estimated heart rate range), allow the investigators to provide feedback, and also enable the determination of how well participants are adhering to the intervention. The investigators will use the Polar Flow application (available for free), which can be deleted by the participant at the end of the study if they so choose.