Is Migraine Genetic

Nearly one in seven people worldwide suffers from migraine. And we often blame the outside triggers like stress, lifestyle choices and hormonal fluctuation, but we never think genetics might have a role to play in your unbearable headache. 

While the outside triggers, like environmental and lifestyle choices, play a major role, several years of research prove genetics to be the main component behind migraine. 

Let’s understand the genetics behind migraine.   

Read more: Is Taste Genetic?

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache that often affects one side of the head and can cause excruciating pulsating or throbbing pain. Symptoms like extreme light and sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting are the most common in migraines.  

Hours or days may pass during a migraine episode, and the agony can be so severe that it disrupts your everyday routine. Some people also experience a warning sign known as an Aura either before or with the migraine. Visual alterations, such as blind spots or flashes of light, can be part of an aura. 

Additionally, the aura may cause difficulty speaking and tingling in one arm or leg or on one side of the face, in extreme conditions.

How does migraine occur? 

When certain events disturb the normal balance of nerve signalling and blood vessel function in the brain, migraine occurs. The overstimulation of sensory information triggers the release of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).  

The release of these compounds causes inflammation, activating the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for carrying the pain signals. And these pain signals are the reason behind the throbbing pain, nausea, and hypersensitivity that characterise migraine attacks. 

Sleep deprivation, stress or hormonal changes can give rise to the above-mentioned events in the brain, and the ease with which these events occur often depends on genetics. 

Here is what happened at a genetic level: the variations in specific genes make some people’s nervous systems more excitable, which increases the likelihood of experiencing migraines. 

Read more: Is Eye Color Genetic?

Genetics of migraine:

Researchers have recently established and extensively studied the role of genetics in migraine. There are several specific genes that, together, influence how neurons communicate, how ion channels function, and how blood vessels respond in the brain. 

Dozens of loci linked to migraine risk have been identified using Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). And all of these genes have specific roles, like regulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin or peptides like CGRP that are central to the migraine mechanism.   

Migraine genes:

Migraine is a polygenic trait involving various genes. Here is the list of some candidate genes that potentially cause migraine.  

According to several studies, it is estimated that up to 60% of people who get migraines are due to their genes. These genes aid in making people more sensitive to changes in environmental factors and trigger migraine attacks. 

However, a recent paper I came across explains how certain rare forms of migraine, like hemiplegic migraine, can be a result of a single gene mutation. The study focused on how these mutations affect brain cells that handle electrical signals and chemicals, making the brain more vulnerable and excitable and more likely to trigger migraine attacks.  

The findings of this study show that instead of a single faulty gene, there are many small genetic variations, and each of these variations adds a little to a person’s overall risk for migraine. And now the large-scale genomic studies have identified dozens of regions in our DNA linked to migraine.  

This paper also highlights how genetic research can shape the future of migraine treatment. Scientists believe that by understanding the genes involved, they can uncover the biological pathways that trigger migraine attacks. 

In short, genetics plays a central role in migraine. 

In simple terms, genetics affects how the brain processes signals and how blood vessels react, which is a major factor in migraine. While large genetic studies demonstrate that common migraine is caused by numerous small genetic influences, rare gene mutations clearly reveal the mechanisms.

All of this research demonstrates why migraines frequently run in families and why therapies that focus on blood flow and brain agitation can be successful.

Related article: Is behavior Genetic?

Can migraine be inherited?

Yes, migraine has a clear and well-defined inheritance in the case of a monogenic condition. However, polygenic migraine is also inherited, but with a complex inheritance pattern. 

So, if at least one of your biological parents experienced migraines, there’s a 50% to 75% chance that you will also. Data from large population studies show that children of migraine patients are four times more likely to experience migraine themselves. 

Wrapping up: 

It’s clear enough now that migraine is not a result of outside triggers only; it is also deeply influenced by our genetics and the genes we inherited. Variation in just one gene is enough for a person to experience migraine. 

The genetic roots of migraine not only help us understand why the condition runs in the family but also provide us with information for more targeted treatments. And with advances in the genomic research of migraines, future therapies can actually treat the disorder more efficiently.

Resources: 

• Sutherland, Heidi G., et al. “Advances in Genetics of Migraine.” The Journal of Headache and Pain, vol. 20, no. 1, 21 June 2019, https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-019-1017-9.
• The Migraine Trust. “Genetics and Migraine.” The Migraine Trust, migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/genetics-and-migraine/.