For some people with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, migraines are an all too familiar occurrence. Researchers have known about the relationship between psychiatric disorders and these debilitating headaches for years. While doctors still aren’t sure what exactly causes the conditions to occur together, shared genes, low serotonin production, and hormonal influences are thought to play significant roles. Now, a study published in the journal BMC Neurology has reported there might be a link between migraines and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
ADHD and Migraines
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people with ADHD is on the rise. Today, about 4 percent of American adults age 18 and older deal with the disruptive symptoms of ADHD on a daily basis. Unfortunately, migraines are even more common. As many as 38 million adults suffer from these debilitating headaches, rendering them unable to attend work or perform normal daily activities.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. The condition is marked by high activity levels, trouble sitting still for long periods of time, problems focusing, and a limited attention span. Typically, these difficulties lead to issues in school and at home. While some kids outgrow ADHD, the condition often continues into adulthood. In fact, as much as 60 percent of children who have ADHD will still have it as adults.
Many adults who weren’t diagnosed with ADHD as children don’t even know they have it; they just know they have trouble completing everyday tasks. Adults with ADHD may be impulsive and disorganized, forget about meetings or social plans, miss work deadlines, or find it difficult to focus and prioritize. Other hallmarks of adult ADHD include difficulty following directions, remembering information, and intense mood swings.
What are migraines?
If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know its more than a headache. A migraine is severe pain felt on one or both sides of the head that may also cause nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Some people experience aura, or visual disturbances such as flashing lights or blind spots, 10 to 30 minutes before a migraine. Migraines can last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours and can occur as often as several times a week or just once a year.
At first glance, ADHD and migraines appear to have little to nothing in common – except for the fact that both conditions can make it difficult to lead a normal life. According to a new study, though, the two conditions may be more related than previously thought.
The link between ADHD and migraines
Earlier studies have indicated a correlation between ADHD and migraines in children and adolescents. Now, for the first time, researchers from the Danish Headache Center and the Institute of Biological Psychiatry have found a link between the two conditions in adults. The Danish Blood Donor Study evaluated 26,456 participants for both ADHD and migraines using a combination of standard diagnostic criteria and self-reporting. An analysis of the data revealed that adults with ADHD were almost twice as likely to report migraines than adults who did not have ADHD. The comorbidity, which is the simultaneous presence of both conditions, was most prevalent in adults in their 50s and in women.
In the past, many adults with ADHD who experienced headaches attributed the pain to their medications. However, the researchers who conducted the Danish Blood Donor Study suggest the link between ADHD and headaches is more complex than a prescription side effect. They believe that people who are genetically predisposed to either ADHD or migraines may actually be susceptible to both conditions. Another notable finding from the study was that the adults with ADHD were more likely to experience visual disturbances along with their migraines.
What does this mean for ADHD and migraine treatment?
While the Danish Blood Donor Study revealed a distinct link between ADHD and migraines, the researchers don’t yet know why the two conditions occur together and what risk factors, if any, can aid in diagnosis. For now, all we know is that ADHD and migraines appear to be linked genetically and that additional studies will be required to reveal which specific factors contribute to the co-occurence.
Join the ADHD or Migraine clinical research trial at Synergy Research Centers
Despite their prevalence, there are very few reliable treatments for people with ADHD and migraines. At Synergy Research Centers, our goal is to discover more effective options and bring relief to the millions of people suffering from these conditions. If you haven’t had success with the therapies and medications currently available, consider participating in one of our clinical research trials. Not only does a clinical research trial offer an opportunity to receive free care for your ADHD or migraines, but you’ll be the first to try new treatments before they’re available to the general public. Take control of your health today; apply online or call us at (619) 303-6130. ADHD clinical trial