Migraines linked to Parkinson's

By Trisha Henry, CNN

updated 5:06 PM EDT, Wed September 17, 2014

Researchers don't yet understand why migraines might be linked to Parkinson's disease.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

(CNN) -- People who suffer from migraines with aura during middle age have double the risk of developing Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders later in life than those who do not, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Neurology.

Migraines are the most common brain disorder in both men and women, according to the World Health Organization, and one of the top 10 most debilitating conditions.

Aura is the term used to describe the feelings and symptoms that happen shortly before and during a migraine.

"Roughly one-third of affected individuals can predict the onset of a migraine because it is preceded by an 'aura,' visual disturbances that appear as flashing lights, zig-zag lines or a temporary loss of vision," according to the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers followed more than 5,000 people between the ages of 33 and 65 for 25 years, who were originally enrolled in a clinical trial designed to study heart disease in Iceland. The participants were interviewed about migraine symptoms in middle age and then, about 25 years later, asked about Parkinson's disease symptoms. They were also asked about symptoms for a related disorder called Restless Legs Syndrome.

The results were based on the study participants' self-reported diagnoses, though in the majority of the cases researchers confirmed the diagnoses by looking at medical records and the participants' medication use.

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Migraines linked to Parkinson's