ScienceDaily: Headache News

One bad gene: Mutation that causes rare sleep disorder linked to migraines

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:35:35 EDT

A gene mutation associated with a rare sleep disorder surprisingly also contributes to debilitating migraines, a new discovery that could change the treatment of migraines by allowing development of drugs specifically designed to treat the chronic headaches.

Genetic mutation linked with typical form of migraine headache

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:51:51 EDT

Scientists have identified a genetic mutation that is strongly associated with a typical form of migraine.

Hologram-like 3-D brain helps researchers decode migraine pain

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:46:46 EDT

Wielding a joystick and wearing special glasses, a pain researcher rotates and slices apart a large, colorful, 3-D brain floating in space before him.

Migraine treatments and side-effects reviewed

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:40:40 EDT

A new review finds little difference between effectiveness of drugs routinely prescribed for migraine prevention but evident difference in the side-effects experienced. Migraine headaches are a major cause of ill health and a reduced quality of life. Some individuals suffer from a frequent and severe migraine problem which means that they require regular medication to try and prevent them. A new review of the medications may help to prevent episodic migraines.

Migraines in childhood and adolescence associated with having colic as an infant

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:18:18 EDT

In a study including children and adolescents six to 18 years of age, those who have experienced migraine headaches were more likely to have had colic as an infant, according to a new study.

Migraine triggers tricky to pinpoint

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:47:47 EDT

A new study has found that it is nearly impossible for patients to determine the true cause of their migraine episodes without undergoing formal experiments.

MRI shows brain abnormalities in migraine patients

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

A new study suggests that migraines are related to brain abnormalities present at birth and others that develop over time.

Can nerve stimulation help prevent migraine?

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:22:22 EST

Wearing a nerve stimulator for 20 minutes a day may be a new option for migraine sufferers, according to new research.

Lightning linked to onset of headache, migraines

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:33:33 EST

Researchers have found that lightning may affect the onset of headaches and migraines.

Migraine triggers may not be as strong as you think

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:48:48 EST

A new study suggests that triggers for migraine with aura may not be as strong as some people think. Auras that occur with migraine include visual disturbances, with symptoms such as flashing lights or wavy lines.

Social stigma of migraine headaches: Worse than epilepsy

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:46:46 EST

A neurologist shows that patients with migraine (a combination of severe headache, nausea, light sensitivity, and other factors) suffer social stigma from their disease similar to the stigma experienced by patients with epilepsy.

Migraine with aura may lead to heart attack, blood clots for women

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 19:01:01 EST

Women who have migraines with aura, which are often visual disturbances such as flashing lights, may be more likely to have problems with their heart and blood vessels, and those on newer contraceptives may be at higher risk for blood clots, according to two studies.

Genetic link between epilepsy and migraine

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:23:23 EST

New research reveals a shared genetic susceptibility to epilepsy and migraine. Findings indicate that having a strong family history of seizure disorders increases the chance of having migraine with aura (MA).

Electric stimulation of brain releases powerful, opiate-like painkiller

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:45:45 EST

Researchers used electricity on certain regions in the brain of a patient with chronic, severe facial pain to release an opiate-like substance that's considered one of the body's most powerful painkillers.

Migraine-associated brain changes not related to impaired cognition

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:49:49 EST

Women with migraines did not appear to experience a decline in cognitive ability over time compared to those who didn't have them, according to a nine-year follow up study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study also showed that women with migraine had a higher likelihood of having brain changes that appeared as bright spots on magnetic resonance imaging, a type of imaging commonly used to evaluate tissues of the body.

Migraines associated with higher incidence of brain lesions among women; effect on health uncertain

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:15:15 EST

After nearly 10 years of follow-up of study participants who experienced migraines and who had brain lesions identified via magnetic resonance imaging, women with migraines had a higher prevalence and greater increase of deep white matter hyperintensities (brain lesions) than women without migraines, although the number, frequency, and severity of migraines were not associated with lesion progression.

Children’s headaches rarely indicate a need for eyeglasses, study finds

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:59:59 EST

A new study provides the first clear evidence that vision or eye problems are rarely the cause of recurring headaches in children, even if the headaches usually strike while the child is doing schoolwork or other visual tasks. Many parents assume that frequent headaches mean their child needs glasses, so they ask their doctor to refer their child for an eye exam. This study was conducted by pediatric ophthalmologists who wanted to find reliable answers for parents, family doctors and pediatricians facing this common health question.

Migraine in children may affect school performance

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:08:08 EDT

Children with migraine are more likely to have below average school performance than kids who do not have headaches, according to new research.

Behavior issues are a bigger headache for children with migraines, research reveals

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:55:55 EDT

Kids who get migraine headaches are much more likely than other children to also have behavioral difficulties, including social and attention issues, and anxiety and depression. The more frequent the headaches, the greater the effect, according to new research.

Good news: Migraines hurt your head but not your brain

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 11:28:28 EDT

Migraines currently affect about 20 percent of the female population, and while these headaches are common, there are many unanswered questions surrounding this complex disease. Previous studies have linked this disorder to an increased risk of stroke and structural brain lesions, but it has remained unclear whether migraines had other negative consequences such as dementia or cognitive decline. According to new research migraines are not associated with cognitive decline.

Four new gene loci predisposing people to the most common subtype of migraine

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 15:12:12 EDT

Scientists have identified four new gene loci predisposing people to the most common subtype of migraine, migraine without aura. About 2/3 of migraine sufferers belong to this group.

New hope for migraine sufferers: Female gene link identified

Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:41:41 EDT

New hope has arrived for migraine sufferers following a new study with the people of Norfolk Island.Scientists have identified a new region on the X chromosome as playing a role in migraine. The research provides compelling evidence for a new migraine susceptibility gene involved in migraine.

Risk Factor Management Helps Prevent Migraine Attacks

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:16:16 EDT

The latest genetic and biological research shows that migraine is a neurological, not vascular, disorder and both acute and preventive treatments being developed target peripheral and central nervous systems, according to a prominent migraine expert.

Cellist achieves optimal performance through neurofeedback

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:36:36 EDT

“Practice makes perfect,” the saying goes. Optimal performance, however, can require more than talent, effort, and repetition. Training the brain to reduce stress through neurofeedback can remove barriers and enhance one’s innate abilities.

Technology eases migraine pain in the deep brain

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:26:26 EDT

New brain stimulation technology can prevent debilitating migraine attacks from occurring, a new study suggests. The technique, using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), applies a mild electrical current to the brain from electrodes attached to the scalp.

Daily preventive therapies significantly reduce migraines: Some more than others, study suggests

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:39:39 EDT

Researchers say that 38 percent of migraine sufferers require preventive therapy, but just three to 13 percent currently use it. An added concern is that patients are taking treatments that have never been demonstrated to work. New guidelines assert that migraine prevention requires taking medication daily, rather than only when in the throes of an attack.

Botox injections associated with only modest benefit for chronic migraine and daily headaches

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:23:23 EDT

Although botulinum toxin A ("Botox") injections are US Food and Drug Administration approved for preventive treatment for chronic migraines, a review and analysis of previous studies finds a small to modest benefit for patients with chronic migraine headaches and chronic daily headaches, although botox injections were not associated with greater benefit than placebo for preventing episodic migraine or chronic tension-type headaches, according to a new article.

Changes in brain's blood flow could cause 'brain freeze'

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:17:17 EDT

'Brain freeze' is a nearly universal experience -- almost everyone has felt the near-instantaneous headache brought on by a bite of ice cream or slurp of ice-cold soda on the upper palate. However, scientists are still at a loss to explain this phenomenon. Since migraine sufferers are more likely to experience brain freeze than people who don't have this often-debilitating condition, brain freeze may share a common mechanism with other types of headaches, including those brought on by the trauma of blast-related combat injuries in soldiers. One possible link between brain freeze and other headache types is local changes in brain blood flow.

The cause and effect of migraines

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:45:45 EDT

A migraine is the most common type of headache that propels patients to seek care from their doctors. Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, with women affected almost three times more often than men, according to statistics.

Babies' colic linked to mothers' migraines

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:30:30 EST

A study of mothers and their young babies by neurologists has shown that mothers who suffer migraine headaches are more than twice as likely to have babies with colic than mothers without a history of migraines.

Headaches after traumatic brain injury highest in adolescents and girls, study finds

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST

In a new study, researchers analyzed the prevalence of headaches three and 12 months after mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury in children ages 5 to 17, and discovered the risk of headache was higher in adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and in girls.

Exercise just as good as drugs at preventing migraines, Swedish study suggests

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:55:55 EDT

Although exercise is often prescribed as a treatment for migraine, there has not previously been sufficient scientific evidence that it really works. However, research from Sweden has now shown that exercise is just as good as drugs at preventing migraines.

Treatment options for cluster headache

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:11:11 EDT

Cluster headache has a substantial detrimental effect on quality of life. New invasive procedures, such as hypothalamic deep brain stimulation and bilateral occipital nerve stimulation, may help patients with chronic refractory headache, according to new research.

Headaches are common in year following traumatic brain injury, especially among females

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:02:02 EDT

Recurring headaches are common during the year following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), regardless of the severity of the TBI, and they tend to occur more often among females and those with a pre-TBI history of headache, according to a new article.

Behavioral treatment for migraines a cost-effective alternative to meds, study finds

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:36:36 EDT

A cost analysis of migraine treatments comparing pharmaceuticals to well-documented behavioral approaches such as relaxation training, hypnosis and biofeedback found behavioral treatments often come out cheaper, particularly after a year or more.

Model of a migraine indicates increased neuronal excitability as a possible cause

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:41:41 EDT

Familial hemiplegic migraine is a rare and severe subtype of migraine with aura, an unusual sensory experience preceding the migraine attack. Researchers in Italy have developed a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine type 2 and used it to investigate the migraine's cause.

More men with migraine suffer from PTSD than women, study finds

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 09:11:11 EDT

A recently published paper highlights that while the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is more common in those with migraine than those without migraine irrespective of sex, the risk is greater in male migraineurs than female migraineurs.

Precision-tinted lenses offer real migraine relief, reveals new study

Thu, 26 May 2011 06:46:46 EDT

Precision tinted lenses have been used widely to reduce visual perceptual distortions in poor readers, and are increasingly used for migraine sufferers, but until now the science behind these effects has been unclear. Now research uses functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for the first time to suggest a neurological basis for these visual remedies.

All in your head? Substantial recovery rate with placebo effect in headache treatment, analysis finds

Mon, 23 May 2011 07:50:50 EDT

Headache is a very common complaint, with over 90% of all persons experiencing a headache at some time in their lives. In an analysis by Dutch researchers of 119 clinical trials, the "no treatment" and placebo groups had a high overall recovery rate of 36%. Control groups in pharmacological trials showed a higher response rate than the behavioral (non-pharmacological) trials (38.5% vs. 15.0%).

Botox injected in head ‘trigger point’ shown to reduce migraine crises

Wed, 11 May 2011 08:12:12 EDT

Scientists in Spain have identified the location of the so-called trigger points that, when activated, cause migraine crises. The common location of these points are the anterior temporal and the suboccipital regions of the head –both at bilateral level.

Botox eases painful spinal headaches, study finds

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 10:42:42 EDT

A new case study finds Botox may offer new hope to patients suffering disabling low cerebrospinal fluid headaches. The successful treatment also offers new insight into Botox and headache treatment generally.

Study suggests a relationship between migraine headaches in children and a common heart defect

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 07:57:57 EDT

Roughly 15% of children suffer from migraines, and approximately one-third of these affected children have migraines with aura, a collection of symptoms that can include weakness, blind spots, and even hallucinations. Although the causes of migraines are unclear, a new study suggests a connection between migraine headaches in children and a heart defect called patent foramen ovale, which affects 25 percent of people in the US.

Weight loss surgery can significantly improve migraines, study finds

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 16:18:18 EDT

Obese migraine sufferers reported post-operative improvements in headache frequency, severity, and disability. Findings suggest weight loss may be an important part of a migraine treatment plan for obese patients.

Migraine rates up for no apparent reason, Norwegian study finds

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:38:38 EDT

Migraine rates in a comprehensive Norwegian health study have climbed by one percent in a decade, which may not sound like much, but could mean 45,000 more migraine sufferers in Norway -- and if the trend were to hold for the European Union, that would be an additional 5 million more people plagued by migraines.

Migraine surgery offers good long-term outcomes, study finds

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:20:20 EST

Surgery to "deactivate" migraine headaches produces lasting good results, with nearly 90 percent of patients having at least partial relief at five years' follow-up, researchers report. In about 30 percent of patients, migraine headaches were completely eliminated after surgery, according to the new study.

Migraines and headaches present no risk to cognitive function, study finds

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:04:04 EST

Significant and repetitive headaches are associated with a greater prevalence of small lesions in the brain, which are detectable by MRI imaging. However, they do not increase the risk of cognitive decline. This reassuring conclusion, reached by researchers in France, is based on a survey of a cohort of 780 individuals, over 65 years old.

Women with migraine with aura have better outcomes after stroke

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:36:36 EST

Women with a history of migraine headache with aura (transient neurological symptoms, mostly visual impairments) are at increased risk of stroke. However, according to new research, stroke events in women with migraine with aura are more likely to have mild or no disability compared to those without migraine.

Preventive medication, behavior management skills help combat frequent migraines

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:48:48 EDT

The combination of preventive medication and behavioral changes offered significant relief for 77 percent of the individuals enrolled in a study aimed at combating frequent, disabling migraine headaches, according to new research.

Ibuprofen offers relief for many with migraine headaches

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:40:40 EDT

For many people suffering from migraine headaches, over-the-counter ibuprofen -- Advil and Motrin are well-known brands -- might be enough to relieve the pain.

Gene linked to common form of migraine discovered

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:53:53 EDT

An international study has identified a gene associated with common migraines. Their findings show that a mutation in the KCNK18 gene inhibits the function of a protein called TRESK. TRESK normally plays a key role in nerve cell communication. This study may have implications for people who suffer from recurrent headaches.

Toward the first nose drops to treat brain cancer

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:19:19 EDT

Scientists are reporting the development and successful initial testing of a new form of methotrexate -- the mainstay anticancer drug -- designed to be given as nose drops rather than injected. It shows promise as a more effective treatment for brain cancer, they say.

Giving aspirin via IV is safe and effective for severe headache, study finds

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:26:26 EDT

A new study shows that aspirin, given intravenously (IV), may be a safe and effective option for people hospitalized for severe headache or migraine, undergoing medication withdrawal.

Head start for migraine sufferers

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:36:36 EDT

Psychological migraine treatment gives sufferers a confidence boost in their ability to self-manage their symptoms. For severe migraine sufferers, psychological treatments build on the benefits of drug therapy, according to a new study. A comparison of the effects of various treatment combinations for severe migraine - drug therapy with or without behavioral management - shows that those patients receiving the behavioral management program alongside drug therapy are significantly more confident in their ability to use behavioral skills to effectively self-manage migraines.

First genetic link to common migraine exposed

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:19:19 EDT

Researchers have found the first ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of migraine. The team found that patients with the DNA variant have a significantly greater risk for developing migraine and suggest that an accumulation of a chemical known as glutamate in nerve cell junctions in the brain may play a key role in the initiation of migraine attacks. The research opens the door for new studies into migraine in humans.

Migraine sufferers have higher risk of dying from heart disease and stroke, research finds

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:12:12 EDT

Individuals who suffer from migraines with aura (temporary visual or sensory disturbances before or during a migraine headache) are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, according to new research.

Headaches in teens tied to overweight, smoking and lack of exercise

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:14:14 EDT

Teens who are overweight, get little exercise or who smoke may be more likely to have frequent headaches and migraines than teens with none of these factors, according to a new study.

Simple massage relieves chronic tension headache, study finds

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:12:12 EDT

Researchers in Spain have shown that the psychological and physiological state of patients with tension headache improves within 24 hours after receiving a 30-minute massage.

REM sleep deprivation plays a role in chronic migraine

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:55:55 EDT

New research shows that sleep deprivation leads to changes in the levels of key proteins that facilitate events involved in the underlying pathology of migraine.

Abnormal brain activity in migraineurs is not restricted to attacks

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:55:55 EDT

Typically, migraine is considered to be an episodic disorder with discrete attacks of headache. But new research has found increased network activity -- stronger functional connectivity -- bilaterally in the visual, auditory and sensorimotor network in migraineurs.

Sleep quality of soldiers with migraine is poor

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:55:55 EDT

Some 19 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have migraine and migraine is suspected in another 17 percent, according to recent research. While prevalence of migraine among the US military is well documented, little is known about sleep quality in soldiers with chronic headaches including post-traumatic headache and migraine.