Migraine and Parkinson’s are two neurological conditions that can impact an individual’s life significantly. A new study has suggested that there is a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s amongst people who suffer from migraines.

What is Migraine?

Migraine is a disabling headache that can cause moderate to severe pain. It is usually accompanied by sensitivity to light, sound, and nausea. The headache can last for hours or days, and it affects millions of people worldwide.

There are various types of migraines, including:.

Migraine with aura: It is characterized by sensory disturbances and visual changes that occur before the onset of a headache.
Migraine without an aura: it is the most common type of migraine, and they are not accompanied by noticeable sensory disturbances.
Chronic migraine: A migraine that lasts for more than 15 days in a month.
Vestibular migraine: it is a type of migraine that is associated with vertigo and dizziness.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. The disease impairs a person’s motor skills, causing tremors, stiffness, and balance problems.

It is a progressive disease that worsens with time and can lead to disability.

The disease occurs due to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells.

When there is a lack of dopamine, communication between brain cells is impaired, leading to the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Link between Migraine and Parkinson’s disease

A new study has found that there is a link between migraines and Parkinson’s disease. The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and was published in the journal Neurology.

The study analyzed data from two large cohort studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, which included 116,609 female nurses, and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which involved 48,295 male health professionals.

The participants were asked about their history of migraines, and the researchers followed up with them for an average of 25 years.

The study found that people who suffered from migraines were at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The risk was more significant in those who experienced migraines with aura.

People who had migraines without aura did not have a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

The study found that people who experienced migraines with aura had a 45% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to those who did not suffer from migraines.

The risk increased further to 64% among women who experienced migraines with aura.

Possible reasons for the link

The exact reason why migraines increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease is not clear. However, the researchers have put forth a few possible reasons:.

Both conditions involve the release of dopamine. In migraines, there is an increased release of dopamine during the aura phase, while in Parkinson’s disease, there is a decrease in dopamine levels due to the degeneration of neurons.
There could be common genetic or environmental factors that increase the risk of both conditions.
Another possible reason could be that migraines could cause damage to the brain, disrupting the dopamine levels, which could increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Conclusion

The link between migraines and Parkinson’s disease is a significant finding that could have far-reaching implications.

Individuals who suffer from migraines, particularly those with migraines with aura, should be aware of the potential risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. However, more research is required to understand the relationship between the two conditions better.