Abstract

The pathomechanism of migraine attacks is not understood well, however, is currently believed to be a brain disorder. Migraine is a multifactorial disorder that needs to be investigated in multiple research areas to shed light into its mechanism and find ways to treat it effectively. Migraine episodes come from one or many things at the same time, and such vary from person to person. However, sufficient evidence in recent studies show there is a strong relationship between genetics with patients having specific genes that may be responsible for the disease or a genetic sequence passed down through generations in families, especially in the case of migraine with aura. Several genes including P/Q type calcium channel gene mutations, Na+ /K+ pump ATP1A2 malfunctions and Na+ gated voltage channel Nav 1.1 have been implicated with familial hemiplegic migraines with aura (Samsam 2012). Additionally, insulin resistance has been shown to be a very prevalent factor in migraine patients, but more research has yet to be done to support such claim. Also, many studies suggest the possibility of migraine attacks occurring due to a lack of energy in the patient´s brain. Meaning that exhaustion of the brain can also lead to a migraine episode. In this thesis, we investigated the genetic causes of migraine and reviewed the recent genes implicated in the pathomechanism of migraines. Further, we explored several articles that investigated the metabolic changes that occur in the brain during a migraine attack and looked for reasons behind such changes.

Thesis Completion

2023

Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair/Advisor

Ahangari, Raheleh

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Degree Program

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Release Date

12-15-2023

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