Headaches

Are Migraine Related Changes Related to Impaired Cognition?

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A recent study titled “Structural Brain Changes in Migraine,” appears in The Journal of the American Medical Association, November 14, 2012, vol. 308, no. 13, pp. 1189-1897, by Inge H. Palm-Meinders et al. The study set out to follow-up the 2000 Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiological Risk Analysis cohort (CAMERA-1), a prospective population based observational study of Dutch participants with migraine and an age and sex matched control group. This study showed that women with migraines were more likely to have scattered areas of white mater changes on MRI scans. The current study is known as CAMERA-2 and the researchers wanted to determine  whether women or men with migraine have a higher incidence of brain lesions 9 years after initial MRI, whether migraine frequency was associated with progression of brain lesions, and whether progression of brain lesions was associated … Read more

Do Migraines Lead to Cognitive Decline?

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While many experience migraines, there are many unanswered questions. One such question researchers are interested is whether or not those who experience migraine headaches are also more likely to experience cognitive decline when compare to those who don’t suffer. Previous studies have shown that migraines lead to increased risk of stroke and structural brain lesions. A study that appeared in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on August 8, 2012 says “Previous studies on migraines and cognitive decline were small and unable to identify a link between… [migraines and cognitive decline]. Our study was large enough to draw the conclusion that migraines, while painful, are not strongly linked to cognitive decline.” The researchers looked at data from the Women’s Health Study, a cohort of nearly 40,000 women, 45 years and older. In this study, researchers analyzed data from 6,349 women who … Read more

Behavioral Issues Come to Children with Migraine

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A new study in Cephalagia shows that children who have migraine headaches are much more likely than other children to also have behavioral difficulties, including social and attention issues, and anxiety and depression. This is no surprise to me. Marco Arruda, director of the Glia Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, together with Marcelo Bigal of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York studied 1,856 Brazilian children aged 5 to 11. The authors were studying how children’s behavioural and emotional symptoms correlate with migraine and tension-type headaches. Children who experience migraine had a much greater overall likelihood of abnormal behavioral scores than controls, especially in social, attention, somatic, anxiety-depressive, and internalizing domains. Children who experience tension-type headaches were affected in the same domains as migraine sufferers, but to a lesser degree. For children with either migraine (23%) or tension-type … Read more

Acheiving Optimal Peformance with Biofeedback and Neurofeedback

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 I came across an interesting discussion about biofeedback in the journal called Biofeedback. I have experience with biofeedback and have discussed some of this here http://www.teethremoval.com/biofeedback.html. The article presents the narrative of a young cellist who is able to realize the potential of his talent and also able to eliminate migraine headaches. William, the name young musician described in the article, sought relief from migraine headaches that were affecting him almost daily. His therapy, however, did not take the approach of treating the headaches, but of focusing on William as a person and as a performer. By improving his functionality, working through moments of obsessiveness, self-criticism, fear, and anxiety, the headaches could also be resolved. William used sensors to read his brainwaves using software which gave feedback to the brain through a visual display and sound. This technology is able … Read more

Migraines – Cause and Effect

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Roughly 30 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and women are affected 3 times more often than men. Hormonal changes are part of the reason why females have such a higher incidence. Migraine headaches typically last between 4 and up to 72 hours with some experiencing them several times a month. Several risk factors have been identified that increase a person’s chance of having migraines: Family history: If one has 1 or more first-degree relatives with migraine headaches, the likelihood rises substantially. Age: Most people are between 15 and 55 who have migraine headaches. Gender: Women are much more likely to suffer from migraines than men. Certain medical conditions: epilepsy, anxiety, stroke, depression, and high blood pressure are all associated with migraines. Hormonal changes: Women with migraines often have them just before or shortly after menstruation. The exact cause of … Read more