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Environmental Factors That Contribute To Migraine Headaches: A Look At 75 Identical Twins
Brendan Alleyne, Jarred McDaniel, Samantha Zwiebel, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Bahman Guyuron
University Hospitals at Case Western Reserve
2013-03-14
Presenter: Brendan Alleyne
Affidavit:
Director Name: Dr. Hooman Soltanian
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Craniomaxillofacial
Purpose
Migraine Headaches (MH) afflict more than 30 million Americans, with females making up the majority of patients [1]. We aim to identify environmental factors which may cause migraine headaches (MH) in identical twins who would otherwise have a similar genetic disposition.
Methods
MH Questionnaires were given to sets of twins at the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio in 2011 and 2012. 75 pairs of twins were identified as one or both having migraine headaches. Differences in environmental factors were compared to MH severity and frequency. Statistics were performed using a generalized linear mixed model.
Results
An inverse relationship was demonstrated between MH frequency and age (p<0.05), increasing exercise (p<0.05), and the absence of head or neck injury (p<0.001). An increase in caffeine use was associated with earlier onset of migraines (p<0.01); however, an increase in alcohol consumption did not correlate with earlier migraine onset (p=0.25). Interestingly, as subjectively reported stress levels increased, MH pain severity decreased significantly (p<0.05).
A history of head and neck injury seemed to render individuals more susceptible to migraine triggers, such as missed meals (p<0.05), increased stress (p<0.01), increased fatigue (p<0.01), increased sun exposure (p<0.05), and changes in weather (p<0.001). These environmental factors were non-significant among twins lacking a history of head or neck injury.
Conclusion
This study elucidates risk factors and that may offer complementary migraine-avoidance and treatment strategies. The strong positive correlation between head and neck injury and exacerbating environmental factors conveys the severe impact of neural injuries in migraine headache characterization.
