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Migraine Headaches Associated With Higher Incidence Of Brain Lesions In Women

INTRO:Almost 15 percent of the general population is affected by migraine headaches. Previous research has shown that patients experiencing migraines had a higher risk of developing small lesions in the brain’s white matter. A new study re-examined these individuals to assess whether they continued to have these same patterns of changes in the brain. Catherine Dolf explains in this week’s JAMA Report.

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Man rubbing his temples

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ALMOST ANYONE EXPERIENCING A MIGRAINE SAYS IT OFTEN COMES WITH DEBILITATING SYMPTOMS.

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SOT/FULL Super@:05 Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., – National Institute on Aging Runs:08

“It’s characterized by headache and nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.”

(Video covering 2nd half of bite: Man rubbing temples)

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Dr. Launer walking down hall, sitting at desk looking at computer images of brain MRI

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DR. LENORE LAUNER (Lahow-NER) FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING AND CO-AUTHORS EXAMINED A GROUP OF RANDOMLY SELECTED MIDDLE AGED MEN AND WOMEN LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS.

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SOT/FULL Super@:25 Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., – National Institute on Aging Runs:09

“In 2000 we identified around 435 individuals some of whom did not have migraine and some of whom did have migraine.”

(Video covering 1st part of bite: MRI brain image on computer)

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Women getting an MRI, GXF scan highlighting lesions in brain MRI and MRI without lesions

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RESEARCHERS ASSESSED THE PATIENTS’ MIGRAINE HEADACHE CHARACTERISTICS, MEDICAL HISTORY AND BRAIN IMAGES. THEY FOUND THOSE WITH MIGRAINES HAD A HIGHER RISK OF EXPERIENCING SMALL LESIONS IN THE WHITE MATTER OF THE BRAIN THAN THOSE WITHOUT MIGRAINE. IN 2009 THESE SAME PATIENTS WERE RE-EXAMINED.

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SOT/FULL Super@:44 Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., – National Institute on Aging Runs:18

“The people with migraine had a two times increased risk for those lesions to either progress or for new lesions. Particularly among women, there was evidence of an increased risk of having these small white hyper-intensities on the MRI scan.”

(Video covering 2nd half of bite: woman walking, women holding her head, patient getting MRI scan)

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GXF MRI brain scan, JAMA COVER GXF FULL

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THEY ARE CALLED HYPER-INTENSITIES BECAUSE ON THE M-R-I THEY LOOK VERY BRIGHT. THE STUDY APPEARS IN JAMA, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

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SOT/FULL Super@1:09 Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., – National Institute on Aging Runs:14

“There was no association between having these lesions and whether or not somebody could function cognitively which means performance on tests of memory, speed of processing and concentration.”

(Video covering 2nd half of bite: cu of brain image, Dr. Launer looking at computer)

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GFX Brain images with and without lesions, man rubbing temples

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THERE IS ALSO NO PROOF THAT THESE HEADACHES CAUSE THE LESIONS. HOWEVER, SOME EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT LESIONS IN THE WHITE MATTER MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH A MIGRAINE ATTACK.

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SOT/FULL Super@ 1:31 Lenore J. Launer, Ph.D., – National Institute on Aging Runs:19

“This really changes the game in terms of thinking that migraine is an intermittent condition that does not leave any lasting trace on the brain to something where it’s a more chronic condition where there actually is some evidence left as a result of the migraine.”

(Video covering 2nd half of bite: GPX brain image without lesions, brain image with lesions)

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Technician conducting MRI scan, people walking on street

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RESEARCHERS HAD ALSO FOUND THAT THE FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF MIGRAINES WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE MATTER LESION DEVELOPMENT. RESEARCHERS POINT OUT THAT THESE RESULTS HAVE NO CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS AND SHOULD NOT CHANGE HOW PATIENTS AND PHYSICIANS MANAGE MIGRAINE CARE. CATHERINE DOLF, THE JAMA REPORT.

TAG:THERE WAS ALSO NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MIGRAINES AND THE PROGRESSION OF ANY BRAIN LESIONS IN MEN.