Migraine causes and treatments explained in new report
9 reported
A recent report examines the history, causes, and modern treatments for migraines, drawing on expert commentary from a neurologist. The article notes that migraines have been recognized for millennia, with ancient remedies including fried catfish and blood-letting, and that until recently, vascular theory was a standard explanation. Today, migraines are understood as primary headaches caused by activation of the trigeminovascular system, which releases a chemical called CGRP that activates the brain’s pain network. The report outlines four phases of a migraine: prodrome, aura (experienced by about 30% of sufferers), the headache itself (lasting 4 to 72 hours), and postdrome. New treatments include Gepants tablets and CGRP monoclonal antibodies, which have revolutionized headache care in the last four to five years, though they remain expensive and difficult to access. The article also notes that about twice as many women suffer from migraines as men, and that stigma and lack of sympathy remain significant problems for sufferers.
What’s reported
The Ebers Papyrus from 1550BC mentions a “disease of one half of the head” and suggests anointing the scalp with fried catfish.
Galen, a second-century Roman physician, coined the term “hemicrania,” which evolved into the modern word migraine, and recommended blood-letting.
Migraines are primary headaches, not caused by an underlying structural issue, and are frequently mistaken for secondary headaches.
Migraines come from activation of the trigeminovascular system, with nerve fibers releasing CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide).
About 30% of migraine sufferers experience an “aura” phase with visual disturbances, numbness, or speech difficulties.
The migraine headache typically lasts 4 to 72 hours, followed by a postdrome phase of up to two days.
New treatments include Gepants tablets (blocking the CGRP receptor) and CGRP monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) administered via monthly injection.
The World Health Organization lists migraine in the top 10 “most disabling” diseases globally.
About twice as many women suffer from migraines as men.
Misconceptions
The article addresses the misconception that food cravings cause migraines, stating that research shows the migraine causes the craving, not the other way around.
Key figures
Alexandra Sinclair, professor of neurology at the University of Birmingham and chair of the British Association for the Study of Headache.
Sources: The Guardian
