Scientists have discovered a new pathway in the brain that plays a key role in triggering headaches, potentially paving the way for new drugs to treat migraines.
Worldwide, 1 in 10 people suffer from migraines. A quarter of these patients also experience stressful sensory factors, including light sensitivity, blind spots, tingling sensations and double vision, which can occur five to 60 minutes before the onset of the headache.
Experts know that disturbances in brain activity can trigger migraines, but the mechanism has remained unclear until now.
According to a new study published in the journal Science, researchers affiliated with the University of Rochester in the United States have revealed how the flow of substances and signals in the brain can lead to migraines and shed light on the contributing factors.
The researchers suggest that the findings could serve as a basis for developing new types of drugs specifically for migraines.
