An international research team has recently linked the common migraine with a genetic risk factor. It seems that people suffering from migraines have a variation in their DNA, specifically on chromosome 8. As a result, a gene that normally codes for a protein that prevents the build-up of an important brain chemical known as glutamate does not function properly. Since migraines are thought to be triggered by an accumulation of glutamate, this discovery shows great promise for developing new treatments for one of the world’s most disabling conditions.
