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Brain 'different' in migraine sufferers
The physiology of the brain is different in people who experience migraines, according to a study by scientists at the Martinos Centre for Biomedical Imaging in Boston.
The study, published in the current issue of Neurology journal, found that the somatosensory cortex area of the brain was on average 21% thicker in people who suffered from migraines.
The sometosensory cortex is concerned with receiving general sensations in the brain. The author of the research, Dr Nouchine Hadjikhani, said that the findings may also explain 'why people with migraines often also have other pain disorders such as back pain, jaw pain, and other sensory problems.'
However, the study did not identify the thickened cortex as the cause of migraine or related conditions. Dr Hadjikhani added that 'repeated migraine attacks may lead to, or be the result of, these structural changes in the brain.'
Other studies have also shown the somatosensory cortex to be altered in people with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, when the area is thinner than usual.
Category: Health
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