2 Wash U studies underway to investigate teenage migraines

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Two new Washington University studies are getting underway to determine who will develop migraine headaches.

Washington University researchers are studying adolescents to determine who will develop migraine headaches as they grow older.

Dr. Hadas Nahman-Averbutch, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Wash U Medical School, is leading a pair of new studies looking at brain connectivity, hormones, and pain sensitivity in determining migraine risk.

"Can we predict this?," said Nahman-Averbutch. "When we can predict it, can we treat it before we see the beginning of migraine symptoms or migraine worsening? And to just better understand why this is happening and maybe develop new treatments for migraines."

Nahman-Averbutch says adolescents are the focus of these two new studies.

"(The first study will focus on) as they got through puberty, who is going to develop migraines and why?" said Nahman-Averbutch. "The second study will focus on adolescents who already have migraines, and they were diagnosed with migraines as children. Now we want to see how migraines has changed as they go through puberty, because some of the them will have a significant improvement and they will basically be headache free, while some of them unfortunately will get worst."

Migraines occur in about seven to 10 percent of adolescent males, but nearly double in adolescent females -- 10 to 15 percent.