hereditary | National Headache Foundation

Large Study Reveals Some of the Genetic Roots of Migraine

July 15, 2013

Researchers recently identified 12 genetic regions associated with susceptibility to migraine, including five areas discovered for the first time. Eight of the regions were found in or near genes involved with controlling brain circuitries, and two of the regions were…

Migraine With Aura Raises Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

April 15, 2013

Women who experience migraine with aura are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke, according to new research. In the latest study on this subject, researchers followed 27,860 women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study…

Migraine and Epilepsy: Study Indicates a Genetic Link

January 15, 2013

Migraine and epilepsy, which often occur together, may share a genetic link, according to research reported online this month in the journal Epilepsia. Individuals with epilepsy are far more likely than those in the general population to experience migraine. The new…

Genetics Discovery Casts New Light on Migraine

July 15, 2012

Two studies released last month have provided a greater understanding about the role of genetics in migraine. The first study found two mutations on the X chromosome that were linked to migraine. Researchers believe that because women have two X…

Sharing My Headache Story with NHF – Jessie B.H.

September 14, 2010

I am a 32-year-old woman and I have suffered with migraines for as long as I can remember. My mother and grandmother were both forced to live with migraines too, so I feel it is hereditary. I’ve seen countless doctors…

Reader's Mail: Are Headaches Hereditary?

February 15, 2010

Q. My father passed away ten years ago from a brain tumor. He also had a lot of migraine headaches. I was wondering if either brain tumors or migraines are hereditary. Both my aunt and I suffer from migraines. I have…

Migraine with Aura and Gene Variation Increase Women's Risk of Stroke

September 15, 2008

The increased risk of stroke for migraineurs with aura continues to make the news. Now a recent study published in the journal Neurology finds that women with migraine with aura who have a particular variation in one their genes have…