Rare genetic mutations may enhance treatment efficacy for migraine headaches

An analysis of the genomes of 1.3 million people has revealed dozens of variations associated with migraine, which could lead to more effective treatments for migraines.

Up to 20% of adults worldwide are thought to experience migraines. Migraines are recurring headaches that are often difficult to treat and can interfere with daily life. Some people have sensory symptoms, such as flashing lights or tingling in the body, before the headache begins, but others do not. It is not known why these two types of migraine, known as migraine with aura and migraine without aura, exist.

“While it is well known that migraines run in families, it has not been easy to identify a clear genetic basis for each subtype,” he says. Debbie Hay at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

now, Kari Stephenson Researchers from the Icelandic biopharmaceutical company deCODE Genetics have identified a genetic variation that appears to influence whether people develop migraines.

Researchers analyzed the DNA of 1.3 million people in Iceland, Denmark, the UK, the US and Norway, and found that around 80,000 of them had experienced migraines.

They discovered 44 genetic mutations associated with the condition, 12 of which had never been reported before. Among these, the research team PRRT2 Genes that help control signaling between neurons are correlated with a greater risk of migraine with aura and epilepsy.

the other A rare mutant that suppresses the function of a gene SCN11A and KCNK5which play a role in transporting sodium and potassium between cells, respectively, and appear to prevent both types of migraines.

The discovery could lead to new treatments that target the causes of migraines, such as drugs that can inhibit the production of a protein encoded by migraines. SCN11A and KCNK5 gene.

“Findings like this should bring great hope to people who suffer from migraine,” Stefansson said. “Current treatments cannot completely eliminate the tendency to develop migraines, so there is a lot of room for better treatments.”

“While great advances have been made in migraine treatment recently, there is still much work to be done in understanding the mechanisms of migraine and how to tailor treatment to each patient,” Hay says.