The migrainewould affect 5 to 8 million people in France. A new study from Bethesda University in the United States establishes a link, albeit weak, between migraine and the risk of suffering from Parkinson disease. This risk would be doubled in migraine sufferers. More specifically, it is people prone to migraine auras who would be more vulnerable. The researchers draw their conclusions from the 25-year follow-up of 5,620 people aged 33 to 65.
A migraine aura is a transient neurological disorder that occurs in 10-20% of migraine headaches. It manifests with temporary symptoms such as impaired vision and speech. In some patients the seizure occurs with an aura while in others it does not. Some may alternate migraine episodes with and without aura.
While previous studies have suggested a link between heart disease, cardiovascular disorders and migraine, this American research advances an explanation for this new association with neurodegenerative Parkinson’s disease. This could be due to a dysfunction of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in the management of movement. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by a weakened production of dopamine in the brain.
“Symptoms of migraine such as excessive yawning, nausea and vomiting could be linked to stimulation of the dopamine receptor,” explains Dr. Ann Scher, the originator of this study in the journal Neurology. But prudence remains in order, specifies the study. Further work, particularly genetic work, is expected before verifying this link between Parkinson’s disease and migraine.
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