Migraines may cause brain damage, scientists say

MIGRAINE headaches may cause progressive brain damage and increase the risk of stroke, research suggests.

Scientists have found evidence people who suffer from migraine have damage in an area of the brain called the cerebellum. And the more frequent the migraine attacks, the higher the risk of damage.

The research, by a team from Leiden University in The Netherlands, is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers say their findings seem to refute the commonly held perception that migraine is essentially a trivial problem with transient symptoms. They hope their work may lead to better treatments, which may prevent cumulative damage to the brain. It is estimated that 12% of the population of Western Europe suffer from migraine attacks.

The study focused on 435 people. Some were free of migraine, some suffered standard attacks and some had a form called migraine with aura. The study showed the risk of tissue damage in the cerebellar region of the brain was more than seven times greater in patients with migraine than in those who were free from the headaches.

Dr Andrew Dowson, medical adviser to the Migraine Action Association, said: "We are surprised with the findings. We also feel that we should not alarm the public until more is known. Having said that, if this turns out to be true, the whole view of migraine will change."