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Neurology (Expert Forum)
What is Migraine?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
What is Migraine?
by aac, Sep 11, 2001 12:00AM
I am highly interested to know the cause of migraine and the principle before it.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Sep 11, 2001 12:00AM
The cause of migraine is still being actively disputed among leading researchers.The old vascular theory on the cause of migraine that describes the narrowing (leading to the aura) and dilation (leading to the headache)of blood vessels to the brain is quite controversial as they have not been able to show any change in cerebral blood flow in migraines without aura. The newer thought on migraine pathogenesis involves a chemical in the brain (along with the GI tract and platelets) called seratonin. During a migraine, the seratonin levels in the brain drop, and increase in the urine. These sudden shifts in seratonin concentrations lead to changes in the blood flow to the brain resulting in pain. Finall, there is a nerve in your brainstem called the trigeminal nerve which is involved in activating pain fibers that is thought to be hyperexcitable during migraines and may play a role in the mechanism of headache. Hope that helps.
*Both my Mom and sister suffer with migranes and they are both diagnosed with depression (my sister is currently on prozac.) However, I also have depression but my medication is not an MAOI inhibitor (I don't have the problems with the seratonin level, am taking effexor, wellbutrin) and I do not suffer migranes at all - just wondering if there's a link?