AHA Journals, Author Interviews, Pain Research, Stroke / 15.05.2014
Migraines Associated With Increased Risk of Silent Stroke
MedicalResearch Interview with:
Dr. Teshamae Monteith MD
Assistant professor of Neurology
Chief of the Headache Division
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
MedicalResearch: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Monteith:
- A doubling of silent brain infarctions in those with migraine even after adjusting for other stroke risk factors;
- No increase in the volume of white-matter hyperintensities (small blood vessel abnormalities) that have been associated with migraine in other studies;
- Migraines with aura — changes in vision or other senses preceding the headache — wasn’t common in participants and wasn’t necessary for the association with silent cerebral infarctions.
- High blood pressure, another important stroke risk factor, was more common in those with migraine. But the association between migraine and silent brain infarction was also found in participants with normal blood pressure.