People suffering from migraine, especially from the so-called aura, they have changes in the white matter of the brain and minor damage to nerve tissue similar to mini-strokes, according to an analysis of 19 studies by scientists in Denmark.
The authors of the work in the journal “Neurology” emphasize, however, that so far the reasons for these changes, their significance and long-term consequences are unknown.
Scientists from the University of Copenhagen under the supervision of Dr. Ashina’s Messouda analyzed data collected in 19 studies that used MRI to assess the brain structure of people with migraines (with or without aura) and people who did not have migraine headaches.
The aura occurs in about 10 percent. patients who have migraines. It is a set of neurological symptoms such as visual disturbances (scotomas, flashes in front of the eyes), visual field disturbances, and even temporary blindness that precede the migraine pain itself. In about 1 percent. sick people’s aura resembles a stroke. Patients may then experience temporary numbness of the arm, legs, sensory disturbances on one side of the body, and speech disorders.
They found that the brains of people with migraine were more likely than those without the disease to show structural changes, including white matter abnormalities and minor damage due to hypoxia of the nervous tissue (similar to stroke, but on a smaller scale). This was especially true of patients who suffered from migraines with aura – their white matter abnormalities were 68 percent more common, and hypoxic lesions by 44 percent. more frequent.
“As a neurologist, I see a lot of migraine patients asking me + Is it damaging my brain? +,” Admits Dr. Ashina. According to him, the latest analysis confirms that migraines may be a risk factor for structural changes in the brain, but how this happens is not known. It is also unclear whether these changes are significant and what their long-term consequences might be.
“For now, it cannot be concluded that people suffering from migraine have a high risk of structural changes in the brain or future dysfunction of the brain until long-term research into the issue is carried out,” confirms Dr. Fayyaz, head of the British Association for the Study of Headache, confirms to the BBC Ahmed. (PAP)