What causes migraines?

Introduction

Migraine is a common and debilitating neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headaches, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Understanding the causes of migraines is crucial for developing effective treatments and improving the quality of life for sufferers.

Key Insights

Genetic and Neurological Basis:
- Migraines are largely believed to be genetic in origin, involving a hypersensitivity of neurons in the central nervous system .
- The primary brain dysfunction leads to activation and sensitization of the trigeminovascular system, which is crucial in generating and maintaining migraine pain.
Sensory Processing Disorder:
- Migraine is considered a disorder of sensory processing, where the brain loses control of its inputs, leading to the various phases of a migraine attack.
- The brainstem and diencephalic systems modulate afferent signals, and their dysfunction can lead to the premonitory phase, pain phase, and postdromal phase of a migraine.
Cortical Spreading Depression (CSD):
- CSD, a wave of neuronal and glial depolarization, is a key phenomenon underlying migraine aura and is believed to play a significant role in the pathophysiology of migraines.
Neurotransmitter Imbalance:
- Migraines involve a primary biochemical disorder of the central nervous system, particularly involving neurotransmitters like serotonin.
- The pineal gland, which produces serotonin and melatonin, may significantly contribute to migraine attacks.
Trigger Factors:
- Various external and internal stimuli can trigger migraines, including dietary factors (e.g., fasting, alcohol, chocolate), hormonal changes (e.g., pre-menstrual period), physical activities, emotional stress, sleep problems, and environmental factors (e.g., smells).
Vascular and Inflammatory Mechanisms:
- Although previously thought to be primarily vascular, current understanding suggests that migraines involve genetic control of brain cell activity, leading to distention and inflammation of meningeal vessels.
- Extracranial arterial vasodilation, neurogenic inflammation, and decreased inhibition of central pain transmission are also implicated in the pathogenesis of migraine headaches.

Conclusion

Migraines are complex neurological disorders with a multifactorial etiology. They are primarily driven by genetic and neurological factors, including hypersensitivity of neurons, sensory processing disorders, and neurotransmitter imbalances. Cortical spreading depression and various trigger factors such as diet, hormones, and environmental stimuli also play significant roles. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing targeted treatments and improving patient outcomes.

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What causes migraines?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing.

Migraine is a neurological disorder caused by a disorder of brain sensory processing, influenced by genetics and the environment, leading to the development of effective therapeutic treatments.

Pathogenesis of Migraine

Migraine's mechanism of attack involves transient cerebral ischemia and spreading depression, with potential triggers including mitochondrial disorders, magnesium deficiency, and abnormal calcium channels.

Symptomatology and Pathogenesis of Migraine

Migraine headaches are caused by extracranial arterial vasodilation, extracranial neurogenic inflammation, and decreased inhibition of central pain transmission, with associated symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and photophobia.

Migraine: New Molecular Mechanisms

Recent discoveries suggest that cortical spreading depression (CSD) plays a key role in migraine pain generation and maintenance, with familial hemiplegic migraine showing increased susceptibility to CSD.

What is Migraine?

Migraine is likely genetic in origin and reflects a genetically induced hypersensitivity involving neurons within the central nervous system, similar to epilepsy.

Migraine

Migraine headache is a common, disabling condition with genetic factors and a complex pathophysiology, but effective treatments can prevent attacks and relieve symptoms.

Melatonin: a significant contributor to the pathogenesis of migraine.

Melatonin, a key neurotransmitter in the pineal gland, may contribute significantly to migraine attacks by disrupting the balance between serotonin and melatonin in the central nervous system.

Trigger factors in migraine patients.

Avoiding common migraine triggers, such as fasting, alcohol, and chocolate, may decrease headache frequency and improve patients' quality of life.

Pathogenesis of the Migraine Attack

The process driving the pathogenesis of migraine attacks and susceptible to migraine trigger factors may be located in the brain stem.

Migraine: Multiple Processes, Complex Pathophysiology

Migraine is a complex, multifactorial headache disorder involving multiple neuronal systems and structural and functional abnormalities in the migraine brain, leading to extreme sensitivity to fluctuations in homeostasis and recurrence.

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