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