Migraine
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses joint aging prevention, avoiding heavy metals in protein, reducing migraines, nicotinamide for skin, and minimizing jet lag.
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Dr. Rhonda Patrick discusses joint aging prevention, avoiding heavy metals in protein, reducing migraines, nicotinamide for skin, and minimizing jet lag.
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News & Publications
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Chronic migraines increase the risk of developing vascular dementia by 33 percent – even for younger, otherwise healthy individuals. journals.plos.org
Migraine is a neurological disorder commonly manifested as severe headache pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity. Approximately 15 percent of people worldwide experience migraine, with women reporting migraine more often than men. A new study shows that migraine increases a person’s risk of vascular dementia.
Researchers used data from a large, population-based cohort study involving nearly 6 million adults with or without regular migraines. They tracked the participants' health for about ten years and assessed their risk for developing vascular dementia.
They found that people with chronic migraines were 33 percent more likely to develop vascular dementia than those without. Those with episodic migraines were 16 percent more likely. The risk of developing vascular dementia was greater among younger people, women, non-smokers, and those without hypertension or diabetes.
These findings suggest that migraine increases the risk of developing vascular dementia, possibly manifesting in younger, otherwise healthy adults. Migraines and vascular dementia share many pathophysiological traits that may explain their interconnected risk. For example, both conditions elicit alterations in cerebral blood flow, with migraines characterized by impaired blood vessel tone and responsiveness and vascular dementia characterized by chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency. In addition, inflammatory processes contributing to brain endothelial dysfunction play a critical role in both disorders.
However, some evidence suggests magnesium prevents migraines. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.
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Dietary fiber may protect against severe headaches or migraines. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Eating more fiber may reduce the risk of severe headaches or migraines, a recent study shows. For every 10 grams of dietary fiber consumed, the risk of severe headache or migraine decreased by 11 percent.
The study involved nearly 13,000 people living in the United States. Participants provided information about their regular dietary fiber intake and the number and severity of their headaches or migraines.
People who consumed the highest amount of dietary fiber (more than 22 grams per day) were 26 percent less likely to report experiencing severe headaches or migraines than those who consumed the least amount of fiber (less than 7.8 grams per day). For every 10-gram per day increase in dietary fiber intake, the frequency of severe headaches or migraines dropped by 11 percent.
Dietary fiber refers to the indigestible components of plant-based foods. The fermentation of dietary fibers in the gut produces molecules that modulate immune function by way of T regulatory cells, such as the short-chain fatty acids.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommendations for combined fiber intake vary according to age and sex. Women need between 22 and 28 grams of fiber per day, and men need between 28 and 34 grams per day. Most people living in the United States only get about half of the recommended amounts of fiber daily.
The findings of this study suggest that consuming dietary fiber protects against severe headaches and migraines. Obtaining enough fiber when following a ketogenic diet may prove challenging. Learn how to include fiber in a ketogenic diet in this episode featuring Dr. Dominic D'Agostino.
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Estrogen and other sex hormones may be responsible for the higher prevalence of migraine in women, while testosterone may be protective. (2018) www.sciencedaily.com
From the article:
Ferrer-Montiel and his team reviewed decades of literature on sex hormones, migraine sensitivity and cells' responses to migraine triggers to identify the role of specific hormones. Some (like testosterone) seem to protect against migraines, while others (like prolactin) appear to make migraines worse. They do this by making the cells' ion channels, which control the cells' reactions to outside stimuli, more or less vulnerable to migraine triggers.
Some hormones need much more research to determine their role. However, estrogen stands out as a key candidate for understanding migraine occurrence. It was first identified as a factor by the greater prevalence of migraine in menstruating women and the association of some types of migraine with period-related changes in hormone levels. The research team’s evidence now suggests that estrogen and changes in estrogen levels sensitize cells around the trigeminal nerve to stimuli. That makes it easier to trigger a migraine attack.