Migraine Seizure: Connection, Causes, Symptoms -

“I do not think there is strong enough evidence to suggest migraine can cause seizure,” said Joanna Galindo, MD, a pediatric neurologist at OHSU. “On the other hand, migraine can be a symptom for a small portion of patients with epilepsy.”

While it’s not currently known whether a migraine attack can trigger seizures, there may be several factors at play.

Brain Activity

Research shows that one type of brain scan called an EEG shows similar brain activity for both migraine and seizure attacks.

Because the brain activity is similar, it’s possible that one might make the other more likely.

“The changes of the migraine in the brain interact with the changes of seizure in the brain and perhaps trigger this sequence from migraine attack to a seizure attack,” Dr. Alexopoulos says.

Brain Region

Visual auras in both migraine and seizures are related to dysfunction in the occipital lobe, which is at the back of the brain.

Visual auras can actually make it easy to misdiagnose a seizure for migraine and vice versa. “In a small portion of pediatric patients, particularly [those] with childhood occipital visual epilepsy, about 25 percent may describe positive visual phenomena like seeing colors,” says Galindo.

Genes

Genes are involved in developing both migraine and epilepsy. Several gene mutations have been found in both conditions. These include:

Shared Risk Factors

Migraine attacks and seizures share several risk factors, including stress, sleep issues, and hormonal factors. Illnesses and drinking alcohol can also lead to both migraine and seizures.

Source link