Older Migraine Sufferers More Likely to Have Silent Brain Injury

People with a history of migraine headaches are more likely to suffer silent brain injury, a new study reveals.

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that older migraine victims suffer a high risk of having ischemic silent brain infraction when compared to those who didn't have migraine headaches.  Studies conducted earlier have suggested considering migraine as an important stroke risk factor in younger people.

Silent brain infraction is the injury that occurs when blood flow to a brain tissue is blocked due to a blood clot. Also referred to as silent stokes, these injuries occur without any sign or symptom and are a risk factor for future strokes.

"I do not believe migraine sufferers should worry, as the risk of ischemic stroke in people with migraine is considered small," said Teshamae Monteith, M.D., lead author of the study. "However, those with migraine and vascular risk factors may want to pay even greater attention to lifestyle changes that can reduce stroke risk, such as exercising and eating a low-fat diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables."

Among those with migraine, high blood pressure was another important risk factor for stroke.  But surprisingly the link between silent brain infractions and migraine was seen in those with normal blood pressure.

Since Hispanics and African-Americans are at an increased risk of stroke, the researchers studies a multi-ethnic group of older adults in which 41 percent were men with an average age of 71 in New York City. About 65 percent of these men were Hispanics. The researchers compared the MRI results between 104 people with a history of migraine and 442 without the condition.

The researchers noticed that there was a two-fold increase in those with migraine even after adjusting other stroke risk factors. Researchers also noticed that migraines with aura was not common in the participants and was not linked with silent brain injury. 

The lesions seemed to be ischemic but the researchers demand the need for further studies to confirm the findings based on the radiographic description. It is unclear whether preventive treatment to lower severity and number of migraines could lower the risk of stroke or silent cerebral infraction.

"We still don't know if treatment for migraines will have an impact on stroke risk reduction, but it may be a good idea to seek treatment from a migraine specialist if your headaches are out of control," Monteith said.

The finding was documented in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke.