Migraines Linked to High Sodium Concentrations in the Cerebrospinal Fluid

People with migraine are more likely to have higher concentrations of sodium in cerebrospinal fluid than people without migraine.

Headache | Cephalgia - Migraine
Migraine is a recurrent condition, which may or may not be accompanied by a headache. In many people it is a triad of headache, nausea/vomiting and ‘aura’.

‘In migraine patients, sodium concentrations were significantly higher in the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid than the healthy population.’

Highlights:

Higher concentrations of sodium in cerebrospinal fluid can help diagnose a migraine
Cerebral sodium MRI can be used as a technique help in the diagnosis and understanding of migraines
Migraine affects about 18 percent of women and 6 percent of men.

People with migraine have higher concentrations of sodium in their cerebrospinal fluid compared to people without the condition, finds a study conducted by a team of radiologists. The team used a technique called cerebral sodium MRI for the study.

Migraines are often misdiagnosed with other headache disorders. Thus, scientists have been working on to develop an effective diagnostic tool for migraine. "It would be helpful to have a diagnostic tool supporting or even diagnosing migraine and differentiating migraine from all other types of headaches," said study author Melissa Meyer, M.D., radiology resident at the Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Mannheim and Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany.

Hormone Therapy for Migraine Offers No Risk of Heart Disease
Hormone therapy may be used in treating migraine without posing an increased risk of heart disease. It may also help prevent bone loss.

Cerebral Sodium MRI

The research team explored a magnetic resonance technique called cerebral sodium MRI to diagnose and understand migraine attacks. Studies have shown that sodium plays an important role in the brain chemistry.

The team recruited 12 women with a mean age of 34, who had been clinically evaluated for migraine. The participants filled out a questionnaire on migraine regarding its length, intensity, frequency and accompanying auras. The study also involved a control group of 12 healthy women of similar age.

Participants in both the groups underwent cerebral sodium MRI. The team analyzed the sodium concentrations of migraine patients and healthy controls. There were no statistical differences between the two groups for sodium concentrations in the gray and white matter, brain stem, and cerebellum. However, they found a significant difference in sodium concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord). Cerebrospinal fluid act as a cushion for the brain and also ensures chemical stability for proper brain function.

The findings of the study might facilitate the challenging diagnosis of a migraine. The research team hopes to conduct future studies to learn more about the link between migraines and higher sodium concentration.

"As this was an exploratory study, we plan to examine more patients, preferably during or shortly after a migraine attack, for further validation," said Dr Meyer.

The findings of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Is Migraine Linked to Depression and Anxiety?
People with severe depression and anxiety symptoms experience more frequent migraines. Lack of sleep could also lead to frequent headaches.

Migraine

A migraine is one of the most common headache disorders, headache disorders that can cause severe throbbing pain, usually on one side of the head. The condition is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, vision changes and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Diagnosis of a migraine is challenging because the characteristics of migraines and the types of attacks vary widely among patients. Most of the patients with migraine are undiagnosed and untreated. But, in contrast, some patients are treated with migraine medications even though they suffer from a different type of a headache.

The symptoms of a migraine may vary from person to person and the attacks differ in length and frequency.

Female Hormones Trigger Headache in Girls With Migraine
During puberty, the hormone levels change in both girls and boys but the female hormones play an important role in triggering headaches.

Common Triggers of A migraine

Some of the common triggers of a migraine are hormonal changes, stress, depression, anxiety, medications, lack of sleep, alcohol, loud noises, second-hand smoke, and bright lights. Diet-related triggers for a migraine are caffeine, chocolate, cheese, citrus fruits, and processed foods that contain the additive tyramine.