The researchers found that a brief brain “interruption” during which neuronal activity stops temporarily changes the content of the cerebrospinal fluid, a clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This altered fluid travels from a previously “unknown gap” in the anatomy to the nerves in the skull, where it activates pain and inflammation receptors, causing headaches.
When the researchers analyzed the movement and content of the cerebrospinal fluid of the mice they used in the experiment, they found that the concentrations of some proteins in the fluid dropped to less than half of normal levels during migraine pain.
Neuroscientist from the University of Texas at Dallas who took part in the study Gregory Dussor, said in a statement that this study represents “a shift” in how headaches occur.
Dussorpointed out that headaches are a general warning sign for many things that are not normal in the brain.
The study’s co-author is a neuroscientist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Maiken Nedergaard“Migraine is actually protective in that way. Pain is protective because it tells the person to rest, to heal, to sleep,” he said.
Nedergaard“Our results indicate that we have identified the primary communication channel between the brain and the peripheral sensory nervous system,” he said.
This is an important and previously unknown signaling pathway for the development of migraine headaches and may also be related to other headache diseases, he said. NedergaardHe stated that the study could be a pioneer for studies on this subject.
Research findings Sciencewas published in the magazine.
