Wednesday, December 29, 2010
In 2010, we saw quite a bit of new information about Migraines. Even though we sometimes feel that little is known about Migraine disease, research is actually moving forward. We're learning about the pathophysiology of Migraine, conditions that are comorbid to Migraine, risk factors associated with Migraines, and much more.
This is a good time to look back at the year and review some of the more important information and events of 2010. Here are links to articles that I think have been most important and interesting this year:
- New information about medication overuse headache (MOH). We learned more about which medications can cause MOH, including the fact that alternating the types of medications we take won't necessarily protect us from MOH. You can find this updated information in Medication Overuse Headache: When the Remedy Backfires.
- For many of us, extreme sensitivity to light can be worse than the headache of a Migraine attack. Research was published showing how visual and pain pathways converge in the brain, causing light to exacerbate the pain of a Migraine. For more on this, see Why Light Worsens Migraine Pain.
- 2010 saw the first needle-free sumatriptan injection released for aborting a Migraine, Sumavel. Check out Sumavel Needle-Free Sumatriptan Now Available for Migraine for more on this.
- Researchers reviewed 21 studies and released more information about Migraine and stroke. You can find this information in More Evidence Links Migraine and Stroke Risk.
- Many of us had a big question answered when research showed that neck pain can be a symptom of a Migraine attack and is, in fact, a more common symptom of Migraine than nausea. I shared that research with you in Neck Pain as a Migraine Symptom.
- Researchers documented what we already knew - that the stigma associated with Migraines is prevalent and harmful to us. More about that in Migraine Burden Worsened by Stigma; Podcast: Migraine and Stigma, Part 1; and Podcast: Migraine and Stigma, Part 2.
- A world-wide collaboration of researchers has identified the first-ever genetic risk factor associated with common types of Migraine. This was an exciting discovery, reported to you in New Discovery on Migraine and Genetics.
- Another exciting event was researchers identifying a gene mutation that could impact triggering Migraines and provide a direction for developing new treatments. More about this in New Discovery: Migraines and the KCNK18 Gene.
- In October, the FDA approved Botox for the treatment of chronic Migraine. Botox has been used successfully off-label for several years. The FDA approval gives hope that more insurance companies will begin covering it. You can read more in FDA Approves Botox for Migraine.
- Another nail went into the coffin of the "vascular theory" of Migraine, the theory that vasodilation is responsible for the pain of Migraine. With PET scans and fMRI, researchers can now clearly state that vasodilation does not occur in all Migraines. More information on this can be found in Vasodilation Not Always Part of Migraine.
- Nancy reported on another new version of sumatriptan in development in Zelrix Submitted to FDA for Approval for Migraine Treatment.
- Nancy also wrote about several famous Migraineurs. She profiled them in:
Wonder what Nancy chose as her favorites from 2010? Take a look at her post My Favorite 2010 Migraine Stories to find out!
