Like a blurry dream in the back of my mind, the thought of my first ever migraine lingers. I had just finished the longest run of my cross country career on a bright, blue-skied Saturday morning. Feeling abnormally tired, as to be expected, I headed home from the park where I began and ended my run. Upon arrival at home I ate my breakfast like usual, slowly sinking into what would be the worst headache of my life. Not much later I began to feel warm, tired, and complacent. In short time. My vision would start to go blurry, especially in my peripherals. It appeared as though fans were spinning all around me, fading my vision and destroying my depth perception. And then came the debilitating pain: the thumping when I was laying still, and sharp sting when I tried to move. Not knowing what was going on, I went to the clinic after only a couple hours, which had felt like days.
Migraines are a rather common problem in the United States, affecting over ten percent of the entire population. Yet although so common, very little is understood about the causes of migraines. The most recent research suggests that migraines are the result of various genetic changes in the brain affecting ion channels, in addition to some environmental factors. However, possibly the best hypothesis we have now is that pain results from migraines due to abnormal levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide released from vasculature in the brain. One of the main players in the migraine story is the trigeminal nerve, one of the cranial nerves that supplies a large portion of the face. The trigeminal nerve has been shown to have receptors for calcitonin gene-related peptide, and when they are blocked pain from migraines dissipates. It has also been shown that triptans, molecules that bind to 5-HT receptors in the brain, help relieve migraine symptoms and normalize the levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide. As a result, 5-HT receptor agonists, as well as calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonists, are being used as possible drug approaches for migraine treatment.
Fortunately for me, my migraine subsided after rehydration and some rest suggested by the doctor. Only one time since have I experienced the migraine-like symptoms that tore me to pieces that Saturday morning a few years ago. Although much more work is needed, I am hopeful that a solid, standard treatment for migraines is on the horizon, as new research slowly solves this neurological mystery. Using our most recent discoveries, we can put an end to this problem that affects so many.
Migraines and the Hope for a Cure
