Susan Moeller Denny, MAGNUM's Director of information, while quite pleased that the media attention to the JAMA article was getting Migraine disease and research the attention of the public, was concerned by some of the phone calls and emails pouring into their headquarters in Washington, DC. Along with a multitude of calls from the media, there were calls and emails from Migraineurs who were confused and upset, especially by the ABC News article. She commented, "While it's true that Migraine can cause damage to the brain, and people need to know that, the public perception of the phrase "brain damage" is a perception of cognitive damage . .. a perception of mental and/or emotional impairment."
Although coverage of this topic is important, ABC could have researched the basics of Migraine disease better and chosen a more accurate title than, "Migraine Maladies: Migraines May Starve Brain of Oxygen, Causing Lasting Damage." Dr. Fred Sheftell agrees:
"While I think well intentioned, the content of the article (ABC article) will serve more to frighten patients than to inform them. As president of the American Council for Headache Education and chair of the World Headache Alliance I applaud exposure which highlights the need to take migraine seriously given its impact. I would however, offer: The thrust of the article may be a little overkill in regard to the implications as there is no evidence to support that the lesions are either due to diminished blood supply, have clinical importance, or are diminished by acute or preventive medications. We have been aware of the presence of these lesions for years. All we know is that they are there; the rest is a stretch and totally hypothetical . . . Since most researchers agree that blood vessel constriction is an unlikely mechanism in migraine, the "neurogenic" theory makes these lesions even more mysterious and difficult to explain."5
Summary:
The editorial in this same JAMA issue supports addressing Migraine as a disease, and points out "With this shift in conceptualization, the goals of treatment may also shift." This study presents not only new information, but information that verifies and reinforces some previously published and taught philosophies of treatment. MAGNUM has recommended a "Multifactoral Approach" for over a decade now.
