Not to put too fine a point to it, but as one (male in this case) who has suffered both from migraines as well as from depression, I cannot but avoid having the impression that there is a causal link between the two. I find having a migraine thoroughly depressing in many ways and not only those that immediately affect myself. The fortification of shame and guilt due to the incapability and total loss of capacity to interact with work or family is a distinctly behavioral and emotional impact on top of the physical misery. Certainly when operating in an environment where ignorance about migraines is parr for the course.
In this context it is also interesting to take note of the very latest findings on the topic of migraines where it was discovered that the brainstructure of those who suffer from migraines is significantly different from those who do not.
A US study has found that the cortex area of the brain is thicker in people who have migraines compared to those who do not. The researchers do not know whether the difference causes the migraine or having migraine over the years has led to the difference in brain structure.
The study is published in the 20th November online issue of the journal Neurology and is the work of Dr Nouchine Hadjikhani, of The Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and colleagues.
Dr Hadjikhani and colleagues compared 24 people who suffered from migraine with 12 people who did not, and found that the somatosensory cortex (SSC) area of the brain of those with migraine was on average 21 percent thicker.
"Repeated migraine attacks may lead to, or be the result of, these structural changes in the brain," said Hadjikhani in a prepared statement.
"Most of these people had been suffering from migraines since childhood, so the long-term overstimulation of the sensory fields in the cortex could explain these changes," she added.
Alternatively, the researchers suggested it could be that people who develop migraines are naturally more sensitive to stimulation.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the researchers had already discovered there were structural differences between the brains of people with migraine and people without. In this new research they measured group and individual differences in cortical thickness in migraine patients who were matched for age and sex with healthy subjects.
The results showed that the people who suffered from migraine had on average 21 per cent thicker SSCs than those who did not, and the most significant differences in cortical thickness were in what is known as the caudal (tail) SSC, where sensations from the trigeminal area, the head and face, are processed.
Most of the migraine patients had been getting migraines since they were children. This might suggest that long term stimulation of the cortex over such a long period could lead to structural changes, said Hadjikhani.
On the other hand, it could also be that their brain's structure changed progressively for some other reason and this led to the headaches.
However, regardless of the cause and effect question, the results show that the sensory areas of the brain are important components in migraine.
"This may explain why people with migraines often also have other pain disorders such as back pain, jaw pain, and other sensory problems such as allodynia, where the skin becomes so sensitive that even a gentle breeze can be painful," added Hadjikhani.
The researchers concluded that the SSC plays a key role in the processing of "noxious and nonnoxious" somatosensory signals, and that:
"Thickening in the SSC is in line with diffusional abnormalities observed in the subcortical trigeminal somatosensory pathway of the same migraine cohort in a previous study. Repetitive migraine attacks may lead to, or be the result of, neuroplastic changes in cortical and subcortical structures of the trigeminal somatosensory system."
Their next step is to perform a larger study to find out whether the migraines cause the structural changes or vice versa, by studying MRIs of children who are at high risk of developing migraines because one of their biological parents had them.
Other studies have also revealed the cortex of people who have certain conditions is different. For instance, people with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease have a thinner cortex. The area becomes thicker with extensive learning and motor training.
"Thickening in the somatosensory cortex of patients with migraine."
Alexandre F.M. DaSilva, Cristina Granziera, Josh Snyder, and Nouchine Hadjikhani.
Neurology, Nov 2007; 69: 1990 - 1995.
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Just thought that I'd mention.
Lupercus
QUOTE (kstours @ Mar 13 2007, 10:54 PM)
QUOTE
January 9, 2007
Women With Migraines More Likely To Have Depression
Science Daily
Women with chronic headache, especially migraines, are more likely to be depressed, feel tired, and have a host of other severe physical symptoms, according to a study published in the January 9, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study involved 1032 women at headache clinics in five states. Of the women surveyed, 593 reported episodic headache (fewer than 15 headaches per month) and 439 had chronic headache (more than 15 headaches per month). Ninety percent of the women were diagnosed with migraines.
The study found women with chronic headache were four times more likely than those with episodic headache to report symptoms of major depression. Chronic headache sufferers were also three times more likely to report a high degree of symptoms related to headache, such as low energy, trouble sleeping, nausea, dizziness, pain or problems during intercourse, and pain in the stomach, back, arms, legs, and joints.
Among patients diagnosed with severely disabling migraine, the study found the likelihood of major depression increased 32-fold if the patient also reported other severe symptoms.
"Painful physical symptoms may provoke or be a manifestation of major depression in women with chronic headache, and depression may heighten pain perception," said study author Gretchen Tietjen, MD with the University of Toledo-Health Science Campus and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "This relation between migraine and major depression suggests a common neurobiology."
Tietjen says studies are underway to test whether severe headache, severe physical symptoms and major depression may be linked through dysfunction of serotonin in the central nervous system.
"Regardless of what's causing the link between migraine and depression, psychiatric disease such as depression complicates headache management and can lead to poorer outcomes for headache management," said Tietjen.
The study was supported, in part, by the American Headache Society, which estimates 18 million American women are affected by headache.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Academy of Neurology.
There were never any good old days. They are today. They are tomorrow. It's just a stupid thing to say. Cursing tomorrow with sorrow.
Migraines And Depression, More common in women. |
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Mar 13 2007, 11:54 PM
