Genetic link to migraines found

CBC ^ | February 26, 2002 | CBC staff writers

[Oxylus]

LOS ANGELES - American scientists have found the first evidence of a genetic link to migraines.

Scientists have known for a while that migraines appear to run in families, but this is the first time a specific region on a chromosome has been linked to migraines with aura, also called classic migraines.

The University of California, Los Angeles researchers analyzed blood samples from 50 Finnish families. Each of the families had three or more members who suffer from migraines.

The scientists looked for genetic markers in common among the blood samples. They found three common markers linked to the fourth chromosome in 30 per cent of the people studied.

"This finding moves us one step close to isolating the gene that predisposes people to migraine headaches with auras," said Aarno Palotie, a UCLA professor of pathology and human genetics, in a statement.

Migraines affect about 12 per cent of the population. Of those, about 15 per cent experience visual disturbance, or auras, before the migraine begins.

The report appears in Friday's issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.

[farmfriend]

I didn't need a study to tell me this, just a look at my family.

[RJCogburn]

fascinating.

[nopardons]

Not a single person, for generations, in my family had migraines; however I have them. So, whilst you fit the pattern, not everyone does.

[Osinski]

Try chewing on the leaf of feverfew for a migraine. Reportedly, stops it cold.

[farmfriend]

I didn't think anyone in my family had them either until I got them. My mother had them but was never diagnosed. When I told the doctor that the head aches reminded me of my mother's, it confirmed it for him that I had migrains. Then I found aunts and cousins who also suffer. Imetrex works well.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Just reading that gave me a headache. And, based on the research, my family too.

[RightWhale]

per cent experience visual disturbance, or auras, before the migraine begins.

Men do not usually go to the migraine pain stage, however, some men experience the aura including vision disturbance.

[Godel]

I used to get migraines alot in high school. It was annoying because painkillers never really worked, the best thing was to just go to sleep and when I woke up they were always gone. Never had an aura, just the feverish, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

My oldest and I have them. Complete with auras. He throws up, I don't. They are debilitating. Imitrex is a godsend. But I am curious about the feverfew mentioned above...will have to research that one...never heard of it before (and I thought I had heard them all).

[Physicist]

My mother suffers from incapacitating migraines. I and my two siblings also get them, only not as bad. I have only once had the aura, but I'm not surprised to hear that there's a genetic link.

Fortunately Imitrex has come along. It's changed my mother's life. I take it myself when I have a migraine and can attest to its effectiveness. One injection and the it's gone in a few minutes. It even feels good, sort of like bathing in champagne.

[Principled]

what is "feverfew"?

[okiedust]

What is feverfew? I have had migraines since childhood, but I don't have severe pain, just the nausea, auras, numbness and crud like that. Pain lasts for several days, and is annoying but not unbearable. Like to know about any natural remedies.

regards

[nopardons]

I started getting migraines ( that I can remember ), when I was six . Thankfully, after many decades of sufferring through them, I no longer get them as often . I can go back many generations, on my maternal side, and not a single person ever had anything other than a once in a while, yur run of the mill kind of headache. Not a single living relative ( from when I was a small child ) , on either side, had migraines or any of its symptoms.

If this theory is correct, I just inherited a " throw-back " gene.

[nopardons]

Thanks, I'd heard of that. Excedrin for Migraines works pretty well.

[nopardons]

Going to sleep ( and I had / have ALL of the awful stuff, including the wretched auras ) was / is what has always worked for me too.

[Redcloak]

Maybe you're a mutant.

[Redcloak]

Feverfew is too bitter for most people to chew. (Imagine chewing on aspirin!) Try brewing it with some tea. The feverfew contains chemicals that are similar in structure and composition to aspirin. Brewing it with tea should enhance its effect by adding caffeine to the mix. It also gets lots of pretty white flowers so it's a nice touch in the garden.

[rmlew]

I'm the only person in my family with migraines, but 4 concussions might have helped start a condition.
Excedrin for Migraines works pretty well.

I find Excedrine reasonably effective at the beginning.

Codine + tylenol+ alcohol works in the later stages (puts me right to sleep, bad for liver.)
Imitrex makes me nausiated.
(Go figure)

[sonserae]

There's more of a link of Migraines to Nacho Style Doritos. Anything with MSG is a sure bet for a migraine. Doritos are the worst culprit.