UCLA Scientist Says Alzheimer Drug May Help Treat Women With Migraines

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - A drug used by those with Alzheimer's to improve memory may soon provide comfort to women who suffer chronic migraines every month.

Dr. Andrew Charles of the UCLA Headache Research and Treatment Program said five percent of women have a headache more than 15 days per month and suffer from migraines three times more than men.

He said studies found out that a possible reason for these migraines is a phenomenon called "cortical spreading depression."

Charles said, "It's actually a spreading wave of electrical activity that moves across the surface of the brain very slowly."

He said that he has found a drug that inhibits these waves and it is called namenda or memantine. This drug is usually used to treat Alzheimer's patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved memantine for use in chronic migraines, but Charles said women suffering from these headaches can take comfort in the fact that it may just be a matter of time before the drug is made available for them.