Core Concepts
Advancements in migraine research offer potential for improved diagnosis and treatment.
Abstract
The content explores the role of genetics and brain inflammation in migraine pathogenesis, focusing on the challenges in diagnosis and treatment due to the lack of reliable biomarkers. Key highlights include:
- Importance of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) in migraine pathophysiology.
- Challenges in measuring CGRP levels accurately.
- Complex genetics of migraine with over 180 associated gene variants.
- Identification of key proteins and therapeutic targets through genetic analyses.
- Role of neurovascular mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology.
- Rare monogenetic causes of familial hemiplegic migraine.
- Association of migraine with brain inflammation and neuroimmune activation.
- Potential of imaging techniques in understanding migraine phases and etiology.
Stats
Human CGRP levels are typically measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), but the kits used for the measurements cannot distinguish between the closely related peptide sequences found in the alpha and beta isoforms of the peptide.
The heritability of migraine is estimated to be about 40%, with more than 180 migraine-associated gene variants identified to date.
Patients with migraine exhibit changes in brain structure and functional connectivity, with reductions in migraine day frequency in response to erenumab treatment associated with changes in resting state functional connectivity.
Quotes
"If we could reliably measure CGRP, there could be great value in the results." - Professor Debbie Hay
"Migraine has different phases, and the interictal phase is the most widely studied. But each phase may potentially have its own imaging biomarkers." - Professor Hülya Karataş