Study of 'Brain Blackout' Offers Clues to Migraine Causes

A recent study in Science reveals insights into migraine origins, suggesting that brief brain "blackouts" alter cerebrospinal fluid content, potentially triggering severe headaches. Researchers found this fluid, affected during cortical spreading depression in mice, could activate pain receptors in the skull's nerve cells. This discovery challenges previous understandings and underscores migraine's complex neurological basis, urging further investigation into how these mechanisms might lead to more effective treatments for the debilitating condition affecting over a billion people worldwide.