The longitudinal influence of tDCS on occipital GABA and glutamate/glutamine levels in episodic migraineurs. 2023

Heiko Pohl, and Patrik Wyss, and Peter S Sandor, and Jean Schoenen, and Roger Luechinger, and Ruth O'Gorman, and Franz Riederer, and Andreas R Gantenbein, and Lars Michels
Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

This study investigated differences in the concentration of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the combination of glutamine and glutamate (as GLX) in the early visual cortex of patients with episodic migraine and the influence of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on GABA and GLX. In this single-blind, sham-controlled trial, we randomly assigned patients with episodic migraine to receive daily anodal tDCS or sham stimulation. In addition, we included healthy controls. We acquired proton MR spectroscopy data of the visual cortex with 3 Tesla MRI at baseline and from migraine patients directly after the stimulation period and 4 months later. In 22 migraineurs and 25 controls, the GABA and the GLX concentrations did not differ at baseline between the groups. tDCS resulted in reduced concentrations of GABA but not GLX or the migraine frequency directly after the stimulation period, but not 4 months later. The changes in the levels of GABA in the early visual cortex of patients with episodic migraine in the interictal period suggest an effect of tDCS that allowed for subsequent changes in the migraine frequency. However, we might have missed relevant variations in the concentrations of these neurotransmitters during the follow-up period, as changes in migraine frequency appeared after the first MRI and disappeared before the second.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008881 Migraine Disorders A class of disabling primary headache disorders, characterized by recurrent unilateral pulsatile headaches. The two major subtypes are common migraine (without aura) and classic migraine (with aura or neurological symptoms). (International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd ed. Cephalalgia 2004: suppl 1) Acute Confusional Migraine,Headache, Migraine,Status Migrainosus,Abdominal Migraine,Cervical Migraine Syndrome,Hemicrania Migraine,Migraine,Migraine Headache,Migraine Variant,Sick Headache,Abdominal Migraines,Acute Confusional Migraines,Cervical Migraine Syndromes,Disorder, Migraine,Disorders, Migraine,Headache, Sick,Headaches, Migraine,Headaches, Sick,Hemicrania Migraines,Migraine Disorder,Migraine Headaches,Migraine Syndrome, Cervical,Migraine Syndromes, Cervical,Migraine Variants,Migraine, Abdominal,Migraine, Acute Confusional,Migraine, Hemicrania,Migraines,Migraines, Abdominal,Migraines, Acute Confusional,Migraines, Hemicrania,Sick Headaches,Variant, Migraine,Variants, Migraine
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D005973 Glutamine A non-essential amino acid present abundantly throughout the body and is involved in many metabolic processes. It is synthesized from GLUTAMIC ACID and AMMONIA. It is the principal carrier of NITROGEN in the body and is an important energy source for many cells. D-Glutamine,L-Glutamine,D Glutamine,L Glutamine
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016037 Single-Blind Method A method in which either the observer(s) or the subject(s) is kept ignorant of the group to which the subjects are assigned. Single-Masked Study,Single-Blind Study,Single-Masked Method,Method, Single-Blind,Method, Single-Masked,Methods, Single-Blind,Methods, Single-Masked,Single Blind Method,Single Blind Study,Single Masked Method,Single Masked Study,Single-Blind Methods,Single-Blind Studies,Single-Masked Methods,Single-Masked Studies,Studies, Single-Blind,Studies, Single-Masked,Study, Single-Blind,Study, Single-Masked
D018698 Glutamic Acid A non-essential amino acid naturally occurring in the L-form. Glutamic acid is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Aluminum L-Glutamate,Glutamate,Potassium Glutamate,D-Glutamate,Glutamic Acid, (D)-Isomer,L-Glutamate,L-Glutamic Acid,Aluminum L Glutamate,D Glutamate,Glutamate, Potassium,L Glutamate,L Glutamic Acid,L-Glutamate, Aluminum
D065908 Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation A technique of brain electric stimulation therapy which uses constant, low current delivered via ELECTRODES placed on various locations on the scalp. Anodal Stimulation Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation,Anodal Stimulation tDCS,Cathodal Stimulation Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation,Cathodal Stimulation tDCS,Repetitive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation,Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation,Transcranial Electrical Stimulation,Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation,tDCS,Anodal Stimulation tDCSs,Cathodal Stimulation tDCSs,Electrical Stimulation, Transcranial,Electrical Stimulations, Transcranial,Stimulation tDCS, Anodal,Stimulation tDCS, Cathodal,Stimulation tDCSs, Anodal,Stimulation tDCSs, Cathodal,Stimulation, Transcranial Electrical,Stimulations, Transcranial Electrical,Transcranial Electrical Stimulations,tDCS, Anodal Stimulation,tDCS, Cathodal Stimulation,tDCSs, Anodal Stimulation,tDCSs, Cathodal Stimulation

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