14 DAY TRIAL // Dr. Messoud Ashina at the University of Copenhagen and his fellow researchers now claim that, contrary to popular opinion, migraines are by no means merely a nuisance that can easily be chased away with the help of painkillers.
The specialists claim that people who have migraines on a fairly regular basis risk getting brain lesions, sources say.
Besides, it could happen that their white matter develops various abnormalities, and that their brain volume changes.
On the longer run, all these issues could translate into permanent brain damage, the researchers warn.
“Traditionally, migraine has been considered a benign disorder without long-term consequences for the brain. Our review and meta-analysis study suggests that the disorder may permanently alter brain structure in multiple ways,” Dr. Messoud Ashina says.
It appears that migraines with aura, i.e. migraines preceded by dizziness, sensitivity to light, ringing in the ears or other similar symptoms, up a person's changes to get brain lesions by 68% when compared to people who don't get migraines.
Simple migraines, on the other hand, raise this risk by about 34%.
As far as white matter abnormalities go, the researchers claim that people suffering from migraines with aura are some 44% more likely to get them than those who only experience simple migraines are.