SUNDAY, June 12 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have identified
three genes linked to migraine headache and found that people who
inherit any one of these genes have a 10 to 15 percent greater risk
for the condition.
Migraine headache -- an abnormality in the response of nerve
cells to stimuli -- is characterized by recurring severe headaches,
which often result in nausea as well as sensitivity to light and
sound.
In examining genetic data from more than 23,000 women, including
over 5,000 migraine sufferers, the researchers found an association
between the headaches and variations in three genes: TRPM8 (which
plays a role in sensitivity to cold and pain), LRP1 (a gene
involved in the transmission of signals between neurons) and
PRDM16.
"While migraine remains incompletely understood and its underlying causes difficult to pin down, identifying these three genetic variants helps shed light on the biological roots for this common and debilitating condition," the study's lead author, Dr. Daniel Chasman, assistant professor in the preventive medicine division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said in a hospital news release.
One migraine expert called the findings "very exciting."
"The thinking for a long time was that migraine is most commonly a multi-genetic condition with potentially many genetic variations that contribute," noted Dr. Audrey Halpern, clinical assistant professor in the department of neurology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "We clearly understand now that migraine is a condition characterized by disordered sensory processing."
Although the study authors said the findings are encouraging,
they noted that more research is needed to better understand
exactly how each of these three genes is associated with
migraine.
Halpern agreed that much more study lies ahead to unravel the
genetics of migraine.
"This current research will help us more fully understand what happens during migraine, but there is also much more to learn," she said. "We've always known it's a genetic condition -- but the last 10 years we've learned it's a neurological condition. This study brings those two ideas together."
The report is published in the June 12 online edition of the
journal
Nature Genetics.
More information
The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about
migraines.