| A recent study reveals that migraines act as mini | | | | process that affects the brain during a migraine. The |
| strokes that can have a lasting impact on the brain. | | | | underlying phenomenon known as "cortical spreading |
| Scientists at the University of Rochester in New York | | | | depression" disrupts the delicate chemical balance in |
| and a team at the Danish pharmaceutical group Novo | | | | the brain and requires a huge amount of energy to |
| Noridsk have conducted studies that suggesst | | | | restore. So while some parts of the brain are getting |
| Migraines may have a lasting effect on the brain. | | | | increased blood flow and oxygen, other parts are |
| Based on studies with mice, these scientists | | | | being deprived of oxygen, also known as hypoxia. The |
| discovered that during a migraine, brain cells underwent | | | | end result is deterioration in the signaling structures of |
| change in the cortical spreading depression process | | | | brain cells, similar to a mini stroke or severe head injury. |
| that is similar to that of a stroke or head trauma. This | | | | According to Nedergaard, for those who suffer from |
| left parts of the brain starved for oxygen and altered | | | | migraines with aura, the visual disturbance may be |
| in damaging ways. | | | | indicative that parts of the brain are short on oxygen. |
| The team of neuroscientists, led by Maiken | | | | The results of this study should alert both patients and |
| Nedergaard, utilized two newly developed imaging | | | | doctors to shift emphasis from treating migraine |
| techniques to understand the energy allocation | | | | symptoms to preventing their occurrence entirely. |