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European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress

Migraine: Why Genetic Studies haven’t Solved all our Problems.

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So if we’ve identified the genes that are causing migraine, doesn’t that mean we’re close to a cure?

Don’t let the news headlines confuse you.  Although we’ve come a long way, it’s not like we’ve discovered a “switch” in the brain that we can now “flip” to “turn off” migraine – or chronic daily headache – or cluster…

Genetics and DNA
Photo courtesy of dullhunk

At the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress, Dr. Tobias Kurth (a Director of Research at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) took the time to clarify with some wise words:

Whenever there is a new genetic study, you can easily become almost convinced that now we have the gene and we can treat migraine better.  No!  Currently there is no indication to test migraine patients for specific genes.  It wouldn’t help you at all in terms of treatment or prognosis.

Make no mistake: We have achieved a lot over the last years, and many groups continue to do extraordinary work.  However, we all have to realize that we still don’t know the precise mechanisms involved in genetic markers of migraine.  We haven’t really shown that having these genes is a predictive tool that can tell patients that they will get migraine, or if they have it what their disease course will be.

This is an important reminder – and it’s not all bad news.  Here are a few things to note regarding migraine and genetic research:

  1. We still don’t know the whole genetic story when it comes to migraine.
  2. Even if and when we know the whole genetic story, that will still only be a part of the migraine story.  In other words, it’s quite possible we’ll never find a simple “genetic migraine switch” – the story will be more complex.
  3. We ARE learning a lot about how migraine works from this new genetic research.
  4. As we understand more about the migraine chain reaction, we are able, here and now, to start developing new treatments based on the new information.
  5. We are also already able to understand more about migraine and how it impacts patients and interacts with other conditions (such as cardiovascular disease).

Yes, get excited about migraine genetic research.  But don’t let your cousin think that the latest news report means you’ll be cured next week if you only go to the right doctor.

via:  New genetic findings in migraine: So what?

Could you use Aspirin to Prevent Migraine Attacks?

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Aspirin is considered by many to be one of the better migraine treatments, both as an abortive and a preventative treatment.  Should it be getting more attention?

Aspirin: Your new Migraine Preventative?

Dr. Lidia T. Savi reported on an aspirin and migraine study at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress.  The study looked at a number of preventatives, and found that aspirin held its own.

Out of 194 patients with migraine with aura, 90 were given 300mg of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) each day.  The rest were on a variety of other preventatives, such as propranolol (Inderal) and topiramate (Topamax).  How did the patients do?

First question – how many saw a 50% improvement after 32 weeks?

Google Chart

Obviously, the aspirin group generally did much better than the rest.  How about a 75% improvement after 32 weeks?

Google Chart

Once again, aspirin out did the others.  As expected, there were few problems with aspirin, and no patients had to stop taking it over the 32 weeks due to side effects.  Better yet, the patients on aspirin already saw improvement after 16 weeks (just over 3 and a half months).

This study does tell us that we need to seriously consider aspirin as a preventative treatment for migraine with aura. This study does not tell us that aspirin will be the most helpful for you.

This study actually raises a lot of questions.  The methods can drastically change the outcome.  For example, how were the patients diagnosed?  Why were they put on the preventatives – was it random?  There is no doubt whatsoever that some medications work better for some than others.

Even the lead researcher admitted that a larger study is needed.

It would be interesting to see more study in this area, especially for two reasons:

  1. Migraine has been associated with increased risk of heart disease and stroke.  Would aspirin help with treatment?
  2. Some studies suggest that migraineurs have an increased risk of aspirin resistance.  Why is that, and how would it affect treatment?

Meanwhile, this may be an option you’ll want to discuss with your doctor.

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