High-Resolution MRI Shows the Impact of Migraine on the Brain, Revealing Mechanisms Behind Its Symptoms

A new study has shown enlarged perivascular spaces in the brain of migraine sufferers for the first time. The study, titled "Ultra-high-res MRI Reveals Migraine Brain Changes," was recently presented at the annual conference of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Study co-author Wilson Xu, an M.D. candidate at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles' Keck School of Medicine, explained that there are considerable alterations in the perivascular spaces of a brain area called the centrum semiovale in persons with chronic migraine and episodic migraine without aura and that these modifications have never been reported previously.

What is Migraine?

Migration is a common and often debilitating illness with symptoms including severe recurring headaches, nausea, weakness, and light sensitivity. More than 37 million people in the US are affected by migraine, and up to 148 million people worldwide suffer from the condition, as per the American Migraine Foundation.

People suffering from the condition may be triggered by stress, smoking, or changes in the weather. Neurologist Dr. Achillefs Ntranos from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and Mount Sinai in New York told Medical News Today that migraines are a neurological disorder that affects the brain and cause a range of symptoms aside from severe headaches.

Some people who experience migraine may also experience visual disturbances, like seeing flashing lights or blind spots. Migraine could attack at varying frequencies and intensity; some could have it occasionally or multiple times a week. Treatment may include the use of medications and lifestyle changes.

But migraine is so complex that there is more about it that causes brain changes that experts still do not understand. Researchers are still working to understand the mechanisms behind migraine and their impact on the brain.

The Impact of Migraine on the Brain

In the new study, researchers used an ultrahigh-field 7T MRI to investigate the relationship between migraine and microvascular changes in the brain. They identified enlarged perivascular spaces and fluid-filled spaces surrounding the blood vessels in the brain.

Researchers noted that it is the first study using ultra-high-resolution MRI to study the effects of migraine on the brain, SciTech Daily reported. The revolutionary MRI technology was able to create images with higher resolution and better quality than traditional MRIs and can be used to demonstrate smaller changes in the brain after a migraine.

According to statistical analysis, the number of expanded perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale was considerably larger in migraine sufferers compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, increased perivascular space amount in the centrum semiovale is linked with the degree of deep white matter hyperintensity in migraine patients.

The team found that these white matter lesions were associated with enlarged perivascular spaces, suggesting that they could lead to the future development of more white matter lesions.

They believe that substantial variations in the perivascular gaps between migraine sufferers and healthy controls may indicate glymphatic disturbance inside the brain.

However, it is uncertain whether such alterations influence migraine formation or are caused by migraine. The team recommends continued research with bigger case populations, and long-term follow-up will help better understand the link between migraine and their effects on the brain.

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