91快色

Children with genes predisposing to migraine may be at increased risk of having more headaches as long as six months after a concussion, according to evidence revealed in a recent U91快色-led study

, MD, an associate professor in the , and , PhD, a professor in the , led the study which looked at more than 600 children aged eight to 16 who presented with symptoms of concussion, and followed them for six months post injury.

鈥淭here is increasing interest in the genetics of headache, and the reason for that is helping identify who is at risk,鈥� says Yeates. 鈥淚f you know the biological systems that the genes govern, you can begin to identify who is going to respond to which medications and even begin to develop new medications.鈥�

This is the first study that has looked at specific genetic factors for migraine and post-concussion outcomes. 

The researchers looked at migraine genetics in three ways: Reporting of family history, a polygenic risk score (i.e., a score that quantifies the genetic risk of migraine by adding up the effects of migraine-associated genetic mutations within an individual), and specific genetic mutations. 

The researchers found that a family history of migraine and mutations in four genes were associated with a higher risk of getting headaches of increasing severity after a concussion in children. 

鈥淭here鈥檚 a signal here that having migraine genes might increase your risk of having more headaches after concussion, which we know is associated with worse long-term outcomes after concussion,鈥� says Orr.

Knowing that a child or adolescent who has more genes for migraine could have worse post-concussion outcomes is important information for treatment providers, as the patient with a genetic predisposition may require more monitoring or earlier and more targeted treatment for headache. 

There are also potential implications for which treatment to give, including which pain medication could have the most benefit. The researchers say that in the future, rapid genetic testing could show who is susceptible to post-concussion headaches, opening the door for personalized treatments. 

Migraine is the leading cause of disability associated with neurological disorders in children and adolescents and into early and mid-adulthood.

Beyond headache, a number of post-concussion symptoms, including blurred vision, balance issues, and dizziness, may be related to migraine, as well. The researchers say post-concussion headache can have a significant impact on a child or adolescent鈥檚 daily life including performance in school and participation in social relationships.

The next step for researchers will be to replicate the study and results in other populations, including adults. The researchers say the study is an exciting first step, as it demonstrates that family history of migraine matters and that specific gene mutations that relate to post-concussion outcomes. The study have been published in the journal . 

The researchers are grateful for the ongoing support of the to improve child health.