Title |
The primary headaches: genetics, epigenetics and a behavioural genetic model
|
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Published in |
The Journal of Headache and Pain, March 2008
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10194-008-0026-x |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Pasquale Montagna |
Abstract |
The primary headaches, migraine with (MA) and without aura (MO) and cluster headache, all carry a substantial genetic liability. Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), an autosomal dominant mendelian disorder classified as a subtype of MA, is due to mutations in genes encoding neural channel subunits. MA/MO are considered multifactorial genetic disorders, and FHM has been proposed as a model for migraine aetiology. However, a review of the genetic studies suggests that the FHM genes are not involved in the typical migraines and that FHM should be considered as a syndromic migraine rather than a subtype of MA. Adopting the concept of syndromic migraine could be useful in understanding migraine pathogenesis. We hypothesise that epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in headache pathogenesis. A behavioural model is proposed, whereby the primary headaches are construed as behaviours, not symptoms, evolutionarily conserved for their adaptive value and engendered out of a genetic repertoire by a network of pattern generators present in the brain and signalling homeostatic imbalance. This behavioural model could be incorporated into migraine genetic research. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 2 | 3% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 1% |
Germany | 1 | 1% |
Canada | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 73 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 15 | 19% |
Researcher | 13 | 17% |
Student > Master | 10 | 13% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 9% |
Student > Postgraduate | 7 | 9% |
Other | 20 | 26% |
Unknown | 6 | 8% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 24 | 31% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 14 | 18% |
Neuroscience | 6 | 8% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 8% |
Psychology | 6 | 8% |
Other | 11 | 14% |
Unknown | 11 | 14% |