Migraines and depression are closely linked, and this connection is much more complex than simply "chronic pain worsens mood." New research shows that if a person suffers from migraines, their risk of getting depression increases by 2.5 times! But the most interesting thing is that this connection is two-way: depression also increases the likelihood of developing migraines, and also contributes to the fact that headaches become chronic and more difficult to treat.
What is behind this?
Scientists from the Institute of Neurobiology in San Juan de Alicante have found that the common link between migraines and depression is serotonin, better known as the "happiness hormone." Its level affects both headaches and mood. With migraines, the brain can produce too much serotonin, which causes attacks. With depression, on the contrary, there is a lack of this hormone, which leads to a depressed state.
Interestingly, migraine medications such as triptans reduce serotonin levels in the brain, which helps relieve pain. At the same time, antidepressants, on the other hand, increase serotonin, which helps combat depression. This supports the theory that migraines and depression share neurochemical mechanisms.
How does this affect the brain?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans have shown that people who have both migraines and depression experience a reduction in brain volume at a faster rate than those who have only one of these conditions. Areas of the brain responsible for processing pain, emotions, and stress are particularly affected.
For example, these people have reduced activity in the thalamus (an area of the brain that transmits pain signals) and in the medial prefrontal cortex, an important structure that regulates emotions. This may explain why people with depression are more likely to experience physical pain, and migraines are accompanied by increased emotional sensitivity.
What about hormones?
Another factor is female hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are known to affect both of these conditions, which is why women are more likely than men to suffer from both migraines and depression.
Fluctuations in estrogen levels can trigger migraines and contribute to depressive disorders. Since estrogens are involved in regulating serotonin, low levels can contribute to both conditions. Furthermore, they affect neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and change.
Progesterone, in turn, can modulate the transmission of pain signals, which may explain why some women's migraines worsen during certain phases of the menstrual cycle.
Is there hope for a new treatment?
One promising new treatment for migraine and depression is the peptide CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide). Its levels are elevated in people with migraine, and administration of this substance can induce symptoms similar to a migraine attack. Interestingly, levels of this peptide are also higher in women with depression, suggesting that CGRP may be a biomarker for both conditions.
Recent studies have shown that drugs that block CGRP can reduce not only headache but also depressive symptoms, opening up the possibility of new universal drugs that would combat both migraines and depression at the same time.
Conclusion
Although scientists have not yet revealed all the details of the connection between migraine and depression, it is already clear that these conditions share common biological mechanisms - from serotonin levels to the work of certain areas of the brain and hormonal levels.
This knowledge will help in the future to develop more effective treatments that address not only the symptoms but also the underlying neurobiological causes of these diseases. This gives hope that one day people who suffer from migraines or depression will be able to access a new generation of drugs that can help them get rid of both problems at the same time.
Based on the article Understanding the Biological Relationship between Migraine and Depression .
At the Expio Medical Center, ketamine therapy and stellate ganglion blockade can effectively treat both depression and migraine.
