A recent study with female participants challenges earlier findings, showing no evidence linking migraines to an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. This research appears in the online edition of Neurology®, the journal published by the American Academy of Neurology on August 21, 2024.
Study author Tobias Kurth, MD, ScD, from the Institute of Public Health at Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin in Germany, stated, “These findings should provide reassurance to women suffering from migraines, who already bear many challenges, that they do not face a heightened risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life.”
The study included 39,312 women with an average age of 55 when the study began. Among these, 7,321 participants reported having a current or past experience with migraines. They were monitored over an average span of 22 years. Throughout this period, 685 individuals received a physician’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Of this group, 128 had a history of migraines or were experiencing them actively, while 557 had no migraine history.
After accounting for factors such as age, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits that may influence the risk of developing Parkinson’s, the researchers concluded that individuals with migraines did not have a higher likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease than those without migraines.
This finding remained consistent regardless of the frequency of migraines or whether participants experienced an aura prior to their migraines. An aura is characterized by visual or sensory disturbances, such as flashes of light, that occur before a migraine attack.
Kurth added, “This study primarily included female health professionals who were mostly white, so further research is necessary to see if these results apply to diverse populations, including different genders, races, and ethnicities.”
However, the study has its limitations. Participants reported their own migraine and Parkinson’s disease experiences, which may have led to inaccuracies. Furthermore, since Parkinson’s disease is typically diagnosed only after symptoms become severe, some participants may have developed the condition after the study concluded.
