For years, migraines have been researched and several medicines that help ease the pain of migraines have emerged on the medical scene. However, recently, there has been talk and studies done on a new possible culprit of the headache. The brain chemical CGRP, which plays a role in the transmission of pain, is the new focus of researchers. Now it’s not new that CGRP has been thought to play a role in migraine pain, it’s just that until recently, researchers had the wrong idea of the role of this chemical. Part of the confusion was the misunderstanding of what migraines really were. While the cause of them remains unclear, doctors are realizing that migraines are really brain disorders and not vascular disorders.
About 12 years ago migraines were thought to have occurred as a result of blood vessel constriction in the brain. According to that line of thought, the dilation of the blood vessels caused the pain. Now it appears that migraines actually “hijack” the brain’s normal circuitry. The brain’s normal path sensory system goes haywire in migraine situations.
CGRP’S ROLE IN MIGRAINE HEADACHE
CGRP, which stands for calcitonin gene-related peptide neurotransmitter, is believed to play an important role in the activation of nerves in the brain associated with migraine. The trigeminal nerve and its connection to other nerves in the brain are what cause the pain. Triptans, which promote blood constriction and inflammation, block the release of CGRP in the trigeminal nerve. While CGRP does aid in blood vessel dilation process, the real role it plays is in activating the nerves of the brain when it comes to migraine pain. In the mid 1980’s researchers found that CGRP was released during a migraine and that Triptans decreased CGRP action. Now, they are working on trying to develop drugs that will block CGRP effects. Thus far, it has been challenging because several of these drugs have shown adverse effects on the liver.
Another possibility is developing artificial antibodies that when injected, would glom onto the CGRP in the bloodstream or the brain before it reaches the receptors in the brain, or by blocking the receptors. Although this research is in the early stages, using artificial antibodies may be the way to go in developing a truly preventive treatment for migraines.
Tags: Acupuncture, Biofeedback, chiropractic care, Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Massage Therapy, migraine prevention, stress management, Vitamin B-12
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