Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?
Updated September 10, 2014.
Worthy of special notice:
If one paragraph of the JAMA article speaks to the importance of such research and the need for continuing research, it is the paragraph quoted below.
"MAGNUM has long held that Migraine Disease is a major public health issue," commented MAGNUM Executive Director Michael John Coleman. He "was encouraged by publication of the Dutch study as the authors addressed many concerns about biases and problems in the methodology of past studies of Migraine and stroke.
The current JAMA article powerfully demonstrates the importance of such needed research and expanding the scientific dialogue on Migraine disease research."? The study makes his his and my point very proficiently as follows.
Other specialists comment on the study and article:
In an editorial also in JAMA, Dr. Richard B. Lipton and Dr. Julie Pan said that the Kruit et al article presented "important new data on the prevalence of brain infarction and white matter lesions in persons with migraine." Their editorial is very aptly titled, "Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?"?
Lipton and Pan emphasize:
Dr. Joel R. Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, told ABC News: "You might have a patient who says, 'I can live with three headaches per week.' This study, if validated, means maybe they shouldn't ... If we say that progressive changes are occurring in the brain from recurring and repetitive attacks ? then there's a greater burden on preventing those attacks." ?
Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Director of information, while quite pleased that the media attention to the JAMA article was getting Migraine disease and research the attention of the public, was concerned by some of the phone calls and emails pouring into their headquarters in Washington, DC. Along with a multitude of calls from the media, there were calls and emails from Migraineurs who were confused and upset, especially by the ABC News article. She commented, "While it's true that Migraine can cause damage to the brain, and people need to know that, the public perception of the phrase "brain damage" is a perception of cognitive damage . .. a perception of mental and/or emotional impairment."
Although coverage of this topic is important, ABC could have researched the basics of Migraine disease better and chosen a more accurate title than, "Migraine Maladies: Migraines May Starve Brain of Oxygen, Causing Lasting Damage." Dr. Fred Sheftell agrees:
>>Click the link below to continue reading...<<
Vital information for all Migraineurs
Worthy of special notice:
If one paragraph of the JAMA article speaks to the importance of such research and the need for continuing research, it is the paragraph quoted below.
"MAGNUM has long held that Migraine Disease is a major public health issue," commented MAGNUM Executive Director Michael John Coleman. He "was encouraged by publication of the Dutch study as the authors addressed many concerns about biases and problems in the methodology of past studies of Migraine and stroke. The current JAMA article powerfully demonstrates the importance of such needed research and expanding the scientific dialogue on Migraine disease research."? The study makes his his and my point very proficiently as follows.
Other specialists comment on the study and article:
In an editorial also in JAMA, Dr. Richard B. Lipton and Dr. Julie Pan said that the Kruit et al article presented "important new data on the prevalence of brain infarction and white matter lesions in persons with migraine." Their editorial is very aptly titled, "Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?"?
Lipton and Pan emphasize:
Dr. Joel R. Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, told ABC News: "You might have a patient who says, 'I can live with three headaches per week.' This study, if validated, means maybe they shouldn't ... If we say that progressive changes are occurring in the brain from recurring and repetitive attacks ? then there's a greater burden on preventing those attacks." ?
Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Director of information, while quite pleased that the media attention to the JAMA article was getting Migraine disease and research the attention of the public, was concerned by some of the phone calls and emails pouring into their headquarters in Washington, DC. Along with a multitude of calls from the media, there were calls and emails from Migraineurs who were confused and upset, especially by the ABC News article. She commented, "While it's true that Migraine can cause damage to the brain, and people need to know that, the public perception of the phrase "brain damage" is a perception of cognitive damage . .. a perception of mental and/or emotional impairment."
Although coverage of this topic is important, ABC could have researched the basics of Migraine disease better and chosen a more accurate title than, "Migraine Maladies: Migraines May Starve Brain of Oxygen, Causing Lasting Damage." Dr. Fred Sheftell agrees:
>>Click the link below to continue reading...<<
Worthy of special notice:
If one paragraph of the JAMA article speaks to the importance of such research and the need for continuing research, it is the paragraph quoted below.
"MAGNUM has long held that Migraine Disease is a major public health issue," commented MAGNUM Executive Director Michael John Coleman. He "was encouraged by publication of the Dutch study as the authors addressed many concerns about biases and problems in the methodology of past studies of Migraine and stroke.
The current JAMA article powerfully demonstrates the importance of such needed research and expanding the scientific dialogue on Migraine disease research."? The study makes his his and my point very proficiently as follows.
- "Based on the current evidence, further study into the possible etiologic mechanisms of brain lesions in migraine patients is required. This will not only provide important clues about the pathophysiology of migraine but also contribute to management guidelines for migraine. Based on the finding of higher risks in those with higher migraine attack frequency, it is necessary to assess whether prevention or (early) abortion of migraine attacks will also decrease the risk for brain lesions and whether there is a subgroup most likely to benefit."
Other specialists comment on the study and article:
In an editorial also in JAMA, Dr. Richard B. Lipton and Dr. Julie Pan said that the Kruit et al article presented "important new data on the prevalence of brain infarction and white matter lesions in persons with migraine." Their editorial is very aptly titled, "Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?"?
Lipton and Pan emphasize:
- "These data have implications for current concepts of migraine as a disease; migraine should be conceptualized not just as an episodic disorder but as a chronic-episodic and sometimes chronic progressive disorder. With this shift in conceptualization, the goals of treatment may also shift. Preventing disease progression in migraine has already been added to the traditional goals of relieving pain and restoring patients' ability to function. If the brain lesions demonstrated by Kruit et al have a significant clinical correlate, preventing the accumulation of brain lesions may become an additional goal of treatment. Emerging treatment strategies to prevent disease progression, including risk factor modification, preventive therapies, and the early use of acute treatments, are an important focus for future investigation."?
Dr. Joel R. Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, told ABC News: "You might have a patient who says, 'I can live with three headaches per week.' This study, if validated, means maybe they shouldn't ... If we say that progressive changes are occurring in the brain from recurring and repetitive attacks ? then there's a greater burden on preventing those attacks." ?
Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Director of information, while quite pleased that the media attention to the JAMA article was getting Migraine disease and research the attention of the public, was concerned by some of the phone calls and emails pouring into their headquarters in Washington, DC. Along with a multitude of calls from the media, there were calls and emails from Migraineurs who were confused and upset, especially by the ABC News article. She commented, "While it's true that Migraine can cause damage to the brain, and people need to know that, the public perception of the phrase "brain damage" is a perception of cognitive damage . .. a perception of mental and/or emotional impairment."
Although coverage of this topic is important, ABC could have researched the basics of Migraine disease better and chosen a more accurate title than, "Migraine Maladies: Migraines May Starve Brain of Oxygen, Causing Lasting Damage." Dr. Fred Sheftell agrees:
- "While I think well intentioned, the content of the article (ABC article) will serve more to frighten patients than to inform them. As president of the American Council for Headache Education and chair of the World Headache Alliance I applaud exposure which highlights the need to take migraine seriously given its impact. I would however, offer: The thrust of the article may be a little overkill in regard to the implications as there is no evidence to support that the lesions are either due to diminished blood supply, have clinical importance, or are diminished by acute or preventive medications. We have been aware of the presence of these lesions for years. All we know is that they are there; the rest is a stretch and totally hypothetical . . . Since most researchers agree that blood vessel constriction is an unlikely mechanism in migraine, the "neurogenic" theory makes these lesions even more mysterious and difficult to explain."
>>Click the link below to continue reading...<<
Vital information for all Migraineurs
Worthy of special notice:
If one paragraph of the JAMA article speaks to the importance of such research and the need for continuing research, it is the paragraph quoted below.
"MAGNUM has long held that Migraine Disease is a major public health issue," commented MAGNUM Executive Director Michael John Coleman. He "was encouraged by publication of the Dutch study as the authors addressed many concerns about biases and problems in the methodology of past studies of Migraine and stroke. The current JAMA article powerfully demonstrates the importance of such needed research and expanding the scientific dialogue on Migraine disease research."? The study makes his his and my point very proficiently as follows.
- "Based on the current evidence, further study into the possible etiologic mechanisms of brain lesions in migraine patients is required. This will not only provide important clues about the pathophysiology of migraine but also contribute to management guidelines for migraine. Based on the finding of higher risks in those with higher migraine attack frequency, it is necessary to assess whether prevention or (early) abortion of migraine attacks will also decrease the risk for brain lesions and whether there is a subgroup most likely to benefit."
Other specialists comment on the study and article:
In an editorial also in JAMA, Dr. Richard B. Lipton and Dr. Julie Pan said that the Kruit et al article presented "important new data on the prevalence of brain infarction and white matter lesions in persons with migraine." Their editorial is very aptly titled, "Is Migraine a Progressive Brain Disease?"?
Lipton and Pan emphasize:
- "These data have implications for current concepts of migraine as a disease; migraine should be conceptualized not just as an episodic disorder but as a chronic-episodic and sometimes chronic progressive disorder. With this shift in conceptualization, the goals of treatment may also shift. Preventing disease progression in migraine has already been added to the traditional goals of relieving pain and restoring patients' ability to function. If the brain lesions demonstrated by Kruit et al have a significant clinical correlate, preventing the accumulation of brain lesions may become an additional goal of treatment. Emerging treatment strategies to prevent disease progression, including risk factor modification, preventive therapies, and the early use of acute treatments, are an important focus for future investigation."?
Dr. Joel R. Saper, director of the Michigan Head Pain and Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor, told ABC News: "You might have a patient who says, 'I can live with three headaches per week.' This study, if validated, means maybe they shouldn't ... If we say that progressive changes are occurring in the brain from recurring and repetitive attacks ? then there's a greater burden on preventing those attacks." ?
Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Director of information, while quite pleased that the media attention to the JAMA article was getting Migraine disease and research the attention of the public, was concerned by some of the phone calls and emails pouring into their headquarters in Washington, DC. Along with a multitude of calls from the media, there were calls and emails from Migraineurs who were confused and upset, especially by the ABC News article. She commented, "While it's true that Migraine can cause damage to the brain, and people need to know that, the public perception of the phrase "brain damage" is a perception of cognitive damage . .. a perception of mental and/or emotional impairment."
Although coverage of this topic is important, ABC could have researched the basics of Migraine disease better and chosen a more accurate title than, "Migraine Maladies: Migraines May Starve Brain of Oxygen, Causing Lasting Damage." Dr. Fred Sheftell agrees:
- "While I think well intentioned, the content of the article (ABC article) will serve more to frighten patients than to inform them. As president of the American Council for Headache Education and chair of the World Headache Alliance I applaud exposure which highlights the need to take migraine seriously given its impact. I would however, offer: The thrust of the article may be a little overkill in regard to the implications as there is no evidence to support that the lesions are either due to diminished blood supply, have clinical importance, or are diminished by acute or preventive medications. We have been aware of the presence of these lesions for years. All we know is that they are there; the rest is a stretch and totally hypothetical . . . Since most researchers agree that blood vessel constriction is an unlikely mechanism in migraine, the "neurogenic" theory makes these lesions even more mysterious and difficult to explain."
>>Click the link below to continue reading...<<
Source...