Migraine pain can range from disruptive to debilitating without the right care. Understandably, you want to know if you or your child will be prone to migraine, especially if a first-degree relative lives with the disease. It’s a complex topic, but research suggests that genetics could play a part in who gets migraine and how it may manifest.
Is migraine genetic?
The short answer is “maybe.” There isn’t enough evidence to explain how someone’s genetic makeup might make them more likely to have or develop migraine, but research strongly suggests that the relationship exists.
In terms of genetics, there are two types of migraine:
- Polygenic: Most cases of migraine, including common migraine, are polygenic. This means that if a hereditary component exists, it’s because of a combination of several different genetic variations. Each variation has a very small impact.
- Monogenic: Monogenic migraine is a result of a single gene mutation. While familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is the most common scenario in this category, some types of migraine with aura may also be monogenic.
Heritability measures how likely or possible it is for a trait to pass from parent to child. Studies suggest that polygenic migraine has the highest chance of heritability — up to 64% in some cases.
The role of comorbidity in migraine and genetics
While we aren’t entirely sure to what extent chronic migraine is genetic, we do know that many people with migraine also live with another chronic disease. This is called comorbidity. Having certain conditions might make you more likely to experience migraine symptoms.
For example, high blood pressure tends to run in families. The link between hypertension and migraine isn’t clear, but research suggests that some connection may exist. People who take medication for their hypertension may also experience migraine symptoms as a side effect.
Hereditary patterns of migraine
Many people with migraine can point to one or more people in their family who also have the disease. Most modern studies of this topic are based on groundbreaking findings from the 1990s that revealed a “familial aggregation” element to migraine.
This has been explored through twin studies in countries across the world. During a twin study, researchers extract and analyze various data from sets of twins. They can perform tests and reach conclusions about how different shared and environmental factors influence health, development, well-being and beyond.
Evidence also suggests that genetics play a bigger part in migraine with aura compared to those without. This is likely because severe monogenic mutations are associated with the experience of aura.
According to these findings, if your first-degree relative has:
- Migraine without aura, you may be two times as likely to experience the same thing and 1.4 times more likely to develop migraine with aura.
- Migraine with aura, you may be four times more likely to have it as well, but with no increased risk of migraine without aura.
Mutations within the ATXN1 gene are most frequently linked with migraine. This is the same type of gene and mutation responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), a type of movement disorder. Other possibilities being studied include the FAM153B and CACNA1B genes, while the CACNA1A is most associated with FHM. For a person to be diagnosed with FHM, one of their first- or second-degree relatives must also experience hemiplegic migraine.
Environmental vs. genetic factors
Migraine is a complex disease. It’s not caused by any one factor but a combination of different biological and environmental influences that interconnect and respond to each other. That’s one of the main reasons why it’s so difficult for scientists to reach conclusive evidence about migraine and genetics.
It’s challenging to separate which parts of someone’s migraine experience come from their environment and which might result from their genetic makeup. This is especially true for women who experience hormonal fluctuations, which can influence migraine at each stage of life.
Another factor complicating gene-related research is the complexity of the structures themselves. Each person’s genetics are a result of hundreds of tiny variants that span multiple “areas” of the gene. Getting a full picture is like trying to capture a spider web’s pattern from outer space.
Hormones and environmental factors can also cloud results through epigenetic programming. Put simply, this refers to how various outside influences affect how your genes “express” themselves. They can alter how your body understands its own genetic information. Since we’re constantly coming into contact with new sensations and triggers, our bodies can express their genetic makeup in different ways. This interferes with how science understands it, too.
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Genetic testing and migraine
Because of these complexities, there is currently no widely available, evidence-supported genetic test for migraine. As modern medicine continues learning more about this disease, we can look forward to a future where it could be easier to predict if, or even when, you might develop migraine and what that could look like based on your unique internal and external environment. This would go a long way in:
- Developing preventive care: Parents who know their child is likely to develop migraine as they get older can create a preventive plan that grows alongside them. This plan can account for dietary considerations, hormonal changes and disruptive sleep patterns to help the child live a more symptom-free life.
- Identifying potential triggers: If you know migraine is in your future, you can approach each possible trigger with intent and have emergency response plans in place for when you encounter them.
- Increasing awareness and understanding: A genetic test that confirms and proves the existence of migraine could be a big step in raising awareness about the disease. This might reduce stigma in the workplace or similar settings, helping people feel more comfortable and confident about sharing their diagnosis.
- Personalizing treatments: Genetic testing may someday be one example of healthcare tailored to your exact biological makeup. This could result in more effective treatments.
You don’t have to wait for science to catch up before you can take advantage of these benefits. If migraine is common in your family, educate yourself about possible triggers and practice caution around stimuli like strong odors and caffeine. You can also schedule an appointment with your doctor to review your family history together and create a plan of action.
CEFALY offers migraine relief backed by science
If you already live with migraine, there is good news! While medical science may not fully understand the relationship between migraine and genetics just yet, it has found a way to manage the condition. CEFALY is a #1 FDA-cleared device for migraine treatment that offers a noninvasive, drug-free way to prevent and relieve pain. It sends safe electrical impulses to the trigeminal nerve through an adhesive electrode you wear on your forehead.
CEFALY has two modes. Use the PREVENT program daily to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks and ACUTE to help stop or alleviate migraine pain at the first sign of an attack. Learn more about the difference CEFALY can make in your life today.
