Mental Health

Migraines Are Caused by Female Gene: Study

By Denise Baker | Update Date: Jun 09, 2012 08:58 PM EDT

Researchers from Griffith University, Australia, discovered a link between the X chromosome and migraines: the "female" gene could be responsible for the cause behind headaches.

More frequent migraines in females can be explained from the results of this study, say researchers. Females have two X chromosomes while males have an X and a Y chromosome.

"These results provide more support for the role of the X chromosome in migraine and may explain why so many more females suffer from the disorder," explains lead researcher Lyn Griffiths according to Science Daily.

For the study, researchers studied the gene data of 300 people from Norfolk Island - a small island located between Australia and New Zealand.

The study revealed that X chromosomes interrupt the brain's iron regulation. When the level of iron drops too low form the normal mark, it triggers migraine in people.

Basically, iron deficiency, which is caused when the brain cells do not receive enough oxygen, triggers chronic headaches, owing to lack of oxygen in brain cells and bodily tissues.

According to the Migraine Trust, there are around 190,000 migraine attacks everyday in the UK. Women are more likely to have a migraine attack than men, with 18% of women claiming to have suffered at least once in their lifetime compared to 8% of men, reports Huffington Post.

The studied was funded by The National Health and Medical Research Council.

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