The Largest Migraine Study Yet Has Identified Over One Hundred Genetic Risk Factors, Which Could Lead To The Development Of More Treatment Options
More than thirty-six million Americans experience migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, migraines are physically debilitating and impact individual’s quality of life.
“Many Americans have chronic migraines, meaning they endure disabling symptoms almost every day– robbing them of a full life as family members, employees, and productive members of society.”
Some also might not be aware that migraines are an inherited genetic condition. Nonetheless, a newly published research study has discovered over one hundred and twenty genetic regions linked to migraine risk.
Of these genetic regions, the researchers identified two specific regions which contain target genes of migraine drugs. The study also illuminated the debated genetic background of two main migraine subtypes.
This groundbreaking genetic study of migraines is the largest of its kind to date.
Conducted by migraine research groups from the United States, Australia, and Europe, the study encompassed genetic data from over eight hundred and seventy-three thousand participants. Of these participants, just over one hundred thousand suffered from migraines.
Prior research has proved that genetic factors play a prominent role in migraine risk. Still, it was unknown if the two most common types of migraines shared the same genetic background.
These two types are known as “migraine with aura” and “migraine without aura.” According to Healthline, migraines most commonly occur without auras– or the “visual disturbances experienced in conjunction with other migraine symptoms.”
These visual disturbances may include lights appearing as dots and starts, zig-zag lines, and even a blind spot before a migraine’s onset.
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The researchers aimed to give this debate conclusive closure and found that the two migraine subtypes both share certain genetic risk factors while having their own subtype-specific risk factors. Migraines with aura have three specific risk variants, while migraines without aura have two.
Heidi Hautakangas, the study’s first author from the University of Helsinki in Finland, discussed how these findings point to new research possibilities.
“In addition to implicating tens of new regions of the genome for more targeted investigation, our study provides the first meaningful opportunity to evaluate shared and genetic components in the two main migraine subtypes,” Hautakangas said.
Dr. Matti Pirinen, the study’s leader from the University of Helsinki, also discussed how discovering two specific genetic regions already containing migraine drug target genes could point to more treatment options.
“These two associations near genes that are already targeted by effective migraine drugs suggest that there could be other potential drug targets among the new genomic regions. This provides a clear rationale for future genetic studies with even larger sample sizes,” Dr. Pirinen said.
To read the complete scientific study, visit the link here.
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