About the episode
Severe recurring headaches, nausea, and sensitivity to light – migraines can have a significant impact on someone’s life. It is estimated that 148 million people worldwide suffer from chronic migraines. But we don’t fully understand where it comes from and how it works.
Well, around the blood vessels in our brains are fluid-filled spaces. These spaces can be affected by disease and inflammation. This allows them to set, for example. It was already thought that there might be a link between the creation of these spaces and migraines.
The researchers have now used a very high resolution MRI scan to find out more. And indeed: in people with chronic migraine there was a much greater widening of those spaces to see the blood vessels.
What they have yet to investigate: Is it migraine causing those swollen spaces or is it migraine caused by those enlarged spaces? The answer to this question could be of great importance for the development of better treatments.
Read more: Ultra-high resolution MRI reveals the brain changes of migraine.
