Noor Amina
It’s a Saturday morning and you are humming to yourself as you pick out a sweater for an outing with your friends. Suddenly, your vision starts to black out. A dull ache creeps along your neck and head, suffocating your thoughts and halting your movement. Your temples begin throbbing with pain making all lights and sounds unbearable. You cancel your plans and retreat into a dark room, hoping the pain will subside. For many individuals suffering from chronic migraines, this scenario is not uncommon. However, chronic migraines may not simply involve getting struck with random headaches; they may be rooted in something profound -an extension of your childhood experiences. Researchers are beginning to uncover an unexpected connection between adverse childhood experiences such as trauma or household dysfunction and the likelihood of chronic migraines in adulthood. Could understanding the link between negative childhood experiences aid individuals in treating or even preventing migraines?
Migraines
Migraines are distinct from headaches, typically characterized by severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head. In addition, the symptomatology of migraines varies in individuals as some report burning, pulsing, and flashing pain along with nausea, dizziness, and blurry vision. Additionally, many individuals experience migraine triggers, where exposure to light or sound may trigger an episode (“Migraine” 2023). Although the symptom's intensity and frequency differ per individual, one common factor that most individuals with chronic migraines experience is the duration of the migraine, which can last from 4 to 72 hours, often accompanied by a range of sensitives and symptoms. 60% of individuals experiencing migraines report symptoms such as fatigue, lack of appetite, digestive issues, and mood swings (“What is Migraine” 2014). Chronic migraines are even more debilitating and are defined as having migraines at least 15 days per month (“Migraine” 2023 ). The headache and symptoms become a companion for chronic migraine sufferers, which impacts their physical and mental health, along with their social relations.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can broadly be defined as any physical, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse an individual undergoes during their formative early years (under the age of 18). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that 1 in 7 children have experienced childhood abuse/neglect (2024). Childhood maltreatment can impact brain development and influence the course of physiological development, affecting various aspects of health. Generally, children who are exposed to abuse during their childhood are at risk for developing chronic diseases, poor mental health, and mood disorders in adulthood (Monnat & Chandler, 2015). All these negative outcomes impact the quality of life for these individuals as childhood is a salient stage of development. One of the impacts ACEs can have on a physiological level is the disruption in the neuroendocrine system and immune functioning due to the recurrent release of stress hormones (Shonkoff et al., 2009).
Relation of ACEs and Migraines
Previous research has shown compelling evidence showing an association between inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress in women with migraines. Tietjen et al. conducted a study in which premenopausal women with and without migraines were studied to examine their endothelial functioning. The results found that women with migraines had endothelial dysfunction (2009). Further investigation on the relation of endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, childhood adversity, and migraines in female subjects. Results showed an association between an increase in ACE score and migraine onset, specifically in individuals with high emotional abuse. Additionally, clinical evidence demonstrated that early life stress results in physiological changes including the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamopituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, which are the primary pathways that respond to stress response and migraine development. (Tietjen et al., 2012). This aligns with previous studies on the understanding that childhood maltreatment or parental care has an effect on an individual's epigenetic memory that results in unrestrained inflammation and the malfunctioning of the reduction in the expression of genes such as the glucocorticoid receptor (McGowan et al., 2009).
Importance
Though the average individual may not necessarily be affected by chronic migraines, the rise in the number of adverse childhood experiences raises concerns about the long-term impacts of this trauma on individuals. Recognizing the widespread influence of childhood trauma is crucial for not only the average individual to understand but also to prevent the potential perpetuation of trauma across future generations. Furthermore, there needs to be an assessment of clinical interventions for individuals impacted by adverse experiences during childhood to ensure that healthy habits are instilled to prevent long-term health disorders. Although for individuals already impacted by abuse in their youth and chronic migraines in their adulthood, methods of prevention are overdue, understanding the background to their current suffering may aid in taking steps to address and heal their traumas.
References
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, July 7). Migraine. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/symptoms-causes/syc-20360201
WebMD. (2014, March 14). What is Migraine? . WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/migraines-headaches-migraines
Chronic migraine. The Migraine Trust. (2024, June 7). https://migrainetrust.org/understand-migraine/types-of-migraine/chronic-migraine/#:~:text=Chronic%20migraine%20is%20defined%20as,frequent%20headache
Understanding Child Trauma. SAMHSA. (2024, May 24). https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/understanding-child-trauma
Monnat, S. M., & Chandler, R. F. (2015). Long-Term Physical Health Consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences. The Sociological Quarterly, 56(4), 723–752. https://doi.org/10.1111/tsq.12107
Shonkoff, J. P., Boyce, T. W., & McEwen, B. S. (2009, June 3). Neuroscience, molecular biology, and the childhood roots of Health Disparities: Building a new framework for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19491187/
Tietjen, G. E., Herial, N. A., White, L., Utley, C., Kosmyna, J. M., & Khuder, S. A. (2009). Migraine and biomarkers of endothelial activation in young women. Stroke, 40(9), 2977–2982. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.547901
Tietjen, G. E., Khubchandani, J., Herial, N. A., & Shah, K. (2012). Adverse childhood experiences are associated with migraine and vascular biomarkers. Headache, 52(6), 920–929. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2012.02165.x
McGowan, Patrick O, et al. “Epigenetic Regulation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Human Brain Associates with Childhood Abuse.” Nature News, Nature Neuroscience Publishing Group, 22 Feb. 2009, www.nature.com/articles/nn.2270.
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