Genetic defects and serotonin

Problems with serotonin in the body can cause a wide variety of problems.  Research into some of these other disorders (such as depression or ADHD) may help us understand what’s happening in migraine sufferers.  In the body, serotonin must first be produced using certain enzymes.  It then acts as a messenger, and once the message has been delivered, the signal is dampened to prepare the cell for the next message.

We now know that at least two slightly different enzymes are involved in creating serotonin (TPH1 and TPH2).  Researchers at the Duke University Medical Center reported in December that they had discovered a genetic defect in some people that causes a decrease in serotonin production, due to a defective TPH2 enzyme.  This defect seems to increase the risk of some forms of depression, and may also explain why some people are resistant to, or even react to some serotonin related drugs.

The research team believes that they may discover other similar defects relating to serotonin levels.  These may lead to a better understanding of how to specifically treat migraine or even different sub-classes of migraine.  Read more about serotonin and its role in migraine here.