We know that adult female are around three time more likely to get migraines than men , and yet we ’ve never really understood why . Now , new research might be able to shed some light on why this is the instance .
The latest study , the results of which are being presented at theAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology meetingin San Diego this hebdomad , has constitute that a particular protein in the brain screw as NHE1 might be involved . The research suggests that fluctuating levels of estrogen might be bottle up the expression of this protein , and therefore increasing the rateof migraines in women .
It is thought that out of some 38 million Americans who get sick headache , around 28 million of these are woman . In fact , as many as18 percentage of womensuffer from the often drain status , according to a survey carry in both Europe and North America . Not only that , but women also get more dangerous and more frequent headaches , and many do n’t respond to the stock medicinal drug devote to help douse the migraines .
While women are more potential to be affected by the condition , cipher out why this is has been a fiddling trickier . One of the obstacles , according to Emily Galloway who worked on the research , could be down to the dewy-eyed fact that many science lab - base experiments on sick headache have been done on virile animal model .
By studying both male and female rats , this latest inquiry was able-bodied to show some fundamental differences between the sexes . One of the most significant finds showed that the reflexion of NHE1 in the brains of virile rats was four times that seen in the brains of female rat . What is more , they found that the female rat with the high spirit level of estrogen also had the miserable amount of NHE1 expression .
“ Based on our determination , we think that women are more susceptible to a migraine because the big magnitude sex activity hormone fluctuations direct to variety in NHE1 expression , which may leave the nous vulnerable to ion dysregulation and botheration activation , ” excuse Galloway .
The protein is known as a atomic number 11 - proton exchanger and regulates the shipping of both sodium and proton across cell tissue layer in the brain , let in the blood - brain roadblock . It is remember that when there are fewer NHE1 exchanger present , it can lead to increased pain signal and come down a sick headache . This could be why some drug are less effectual on women , as the power of the medication to frustrate the line - brain barrier is inhibited .
This work could facilitate research worker better target ways to treat migraines in both women and men , helping tens of million of people in the process .
