The results of a new study reveal that migraine headaches accompanied by certain symptoms increased the risk of brain lesions in the white matter of patients’ brains by 68%. Other migraines without the symptoms increased risk by 34%. Some of these symptoms include:
• Seeing flashing lights
• Temporary blindness
• Blind spots
• Seeing zigzag patterns
• Hallucinations
• Systemic numbness and tingling
• General weakness
Taking medication at the immediate onset of a symptom can sometimes lessen the severity of the migraine or curtail it completely. In other cases, migraines occur with no perceivable warning. No matter the pattern of onset, migraines are challenging to those who suffer from them. The brain lesions associated with some migraines are usually detected by an MRI and produce no noticeable symptoms in patients.
While patients with the brain lesions need to be monitored for stroke-related risk, the lesions themselves are still considered generally benign. Other abnormalities of white matter and reduced brain volume were also observed in patients with migraines, when compared to patients without migraines. Ongoing monitoring of patients with recurring migraines is necessary to monitor overall health and adjust medical treatment when needed.
The study was comprehensive. Dr. Messoud Ashina and his colleagues at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark reviewed six separate population sets with 13 clinical-based studies to determine their findings. MRI brain scans were compared between patients with migraines and people without migraines.
Approximately 10 to 15% of the people in the United States suffer from migraine headaches. Researchers are looking for ways that these new findings can lead medical professionals to novel treatment methods. In the past, researchers have not looked at migraines as having long-term and permanent consequences in the architecture of the brain. This study reveals otherwise and should continue to spark more interest in the connection between migraines and structural effects in the brain.
References:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130828172644.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_140165.html
http://neurologywestla.com/migraine-may-change-structure-of-brain/
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/what-is-a-migraine-with-aura?page=2
