We have all had those days where we get those massive headaches that just seem to not go away. Migraines are very common within people. According to an article from CNN News, “Migraines are the most common brain disorder in both men and women, according to the World Health Organization, and one of the top ten most debilitating conditions.”

Those who suffer migraines with aura double their chance of developing a common movement disorder, Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease creates problems with nerve cells that produce dopamine. Muscle rigidity and tremors are common side effects of this disease. A study was done where 5,000 people were followed for 25 years and were asked questions about any migraine symptoms and later Parkinson’s disease symptoms. All the participants were from the ages of 33 and 65. When they were asked about the Parkinson’s disease, many were linked to a disorder call Restless Legs Syndrome based on the participant’s self diagnosis. Dr. Michael S. Okun, national medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation stated, “The patients in this study were not carefully examined and definitely diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.” He also continued to say, “Head trauma and other neurological issues can manifest with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease and future studies will need to better control for these factors.” Dr. Okun believe that more research need to be done before any conclusion is made.

The connection between Parkinson’s disease and migraines are very low. There are some factors, such as previous head injuries or shared genetic risk factors, that would increase they chance of someone getting a migraine and Parkinson’s disease. Dopamine is needed to help Parkinson’s patients that can also help with migraines. “Another theory is that in migraine sufferers there seems to be a higher deposition of metals, such as iron, in the brain and specifically in areas important to movement,” said Okun. “Some experts believe that this metal deposition may place patients at risk for diseases like Parkinson’s.”

There needs to be more research on this subject in order to conclude that migraines can increase your chances of getting Parkinson’s disease. A study dealing with dopamine may help if researchers believe that dopamine can contribute to helping those with migraines and Parkinson’s disease. They can use this research to answer that question definitely.

Sources: http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/default.htm

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/17/health/migraines-parkinsons/index.html?hpt=he_c2