Boyd - Migraine Pahtophysiology

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Sue - 12 Jan 2006 01:17 GMT

Good reading.

http://www.migraineprevention.com/

Exerpt:

"An elevated sympathetic tone increases the intrafusal tension of the
spindles (primarily within the temporalis) and allows nocturnal
jaw-elevator muscle activity to go un-governed, resulting in multiple
nightly episodes of jaw-clenching activity that can exceed the
subject's voluntary maximum. [right]. While casually referred to as
"bruxism", the term has unfortunately become synonymous with
"teeth-grinding". Although teeth-grinding can ensue as a result of the
persisting jaw elevation and occluding of the teeth, the intensity of
the elevator muscle activity (primarily the temporalis), dictates
whether or not the jaw depressors/openers (mainly the lateral
pterygoids) can success-
fully advance their respective condyles, resulting in varying degrees
of teeth-grinding.."

Comment:
Elevated sympathetic tone suggests an autonomic nervous system
imbalance (at least temporarily), whereby sympathetic activity >
parasympathetic activtiy.

JMHO,
-Sue (nondentist)

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Sue - 14 Jan 2006 00:54 GMT

> Good reading.
>
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> JMHO,
> -Sue (nondentist)

"Epilepsy and migraine: The dopamine hypotheses."

Interesting hypothesis recently published:

"Dopamine therefore plays a key role in the linkage of neuroendocrine,
autonomic system and neuronal activity."

Comment: I am not surprised by this hypothesis

Although I am not an expert, I do know this...
Endogenous dopamine has long been described as a hormone (hypothalmic
release) and as a neurotransmitter that connects neural communications
within the brain; much of the latter involving (motor) control of
movement.

However when given as a drug, dopamine does not affect the CNS, because
it cannot cross the blood brain barrier. As a drug it does however
act as a powerful inotrope (increasing cardiac contractility) via the
sympathetic nervous system.

So when large concentrations of dopamine are present in the blood,
dopamine acts as a sympathetic neurotransmitter.

Bottomline: Dopamine acts within the brain centers that control
movement AND in the sympathetic nervous system pathways that affect
cardiac muscle and smooth muscle. It has also been defined as a
hormone as described above, as well as a neurhormone involved in other
major pathways... like within the limbic system "pleasure" center.

Major dopamine pathways have been defined; we now are trying to define
how these (and other pathways) link systems together that effect
nervous system control of physiological functions.

-Sue

Med Hypotheses. 2006;66(3):466-72. Epub 2005 Nov 18. Related Articles,
Links

Epilepsy and migraine: The dopamine hypotheses.

Chen SC.

Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense
Medical Center, No. 325, Section 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei,
Taiwan, ROC.

Migraine and epilepsy are both chronic recurrent disorders with
paroxysmal attacks. They also share some similar risk factors,
symptoms, and preventive medications. Dopamine has long been postulated
to be involved in the pathophysiology of migraine and epileptogenesis,
by many supporting evidences. However, the role of dopamine is still
controversial till now. A lack of a comprehensive hypothetical model
may be one of the reasons. "Dopamine hypothesis" is not a new term, but
it is proposed to explain the pathophysiology and the associated
phenomena of these disorders. The hypotheses suggest that, in migraine,
there is a low dopamine tone, while there is a high state of dopamine
in generalized epilepsy. But the periodic attacks of headaches and
seizures maybe both due to a fall in dopamine activity. Dopamine
therefore plays a key role in the linkage of neuroendocrine, autonomic
system and neuronal activity. Dopamine agonist is also implied in
prophylaxis and neuroprotection in both disorders.

**********************************************************************************************

PS BTW, movement disorder symptoms of Parkinson's disease are often
treated with the drug L-DOPA (a dopamine precursor). L-DOPA can cross
the blood brain barrier, therefore L-DOPA can flood the centers of the
brain (that, in Parkinson's disease lack sufficient dopamine).

If this is not of interest. Please, ignore.

-Sue

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JanD - 14 Jan 2006 03:23 GMT

Thanks, Sue very interesting.

Even though, all of my jaw teeth have been removed, I have recently been
wearing both my nighttime and daytime NTI just to experiment, to see if it
helped with my recent pain from my jaw bone surgery. For some reason, they
do! I would really like to talk to Dr Boyd about all of this.

Jan

>> Good reading.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 96 lines]
>
> -Sue

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Sue - 14 Jan 2006 17:21 GMT

> Thanks, Sue very interesting.
>
[quoted text clipped - 105 lines]
> >
> > -Sue

Jan,

Do you suffer from migraine headaches?

I thought I had read before, that you mentioned the NTI did not help
your symptoms. Perhaps I am mistaken.

I do not know Dr. Boyd, but I think that Tim Dixon and some of the
dentists might.

Personally, I think Dr. Boyd's theory is interesting and is based upon
some scientific evidence. Therefore I believe his theory holds some
credence as to why the NTI helps some people with migraine. However in
the same token, I am not sure if Dr. Boyd or anybody truly knows the
exact mechanisms involved.

But the bottomline is, if the NTI works and does not cause harm, then
perhaps knowing exactly why is not so important.

BTW, this is often the case with many treatments. We discover
treatments that work in many patients, but we often cannot dilineate
exactly how and why they work. We have ideas, but we may not know
exactly.

The reason we do not know exactly, is that often, we do not entirely
understand the disease! Although we can attach labels to diseases,
based upon symptoms... for example "heart failure." We can diagnose
when a patient is in heart failure, but we may not know why. In this
case the "etiology" (i.e. the cause) is labeled "idiopathic."

"Idiopathic" means "cause unknown."

Maybe you know his already, so I hope I am not insulting your
intelligence!

I guess what I am saying is that medicine is not a perfect science
because we do not understand everything yet. We (meaning all of us
involved... from researchers to practicing physicians and dentists)
are doing the best we can to find solutions.

BTW, I am not heavy into all the politics surrounding various
organizations or the profitmaking companies. I tend to take the view
that these organizations and companies are not as corrupt as some of
the public thinks. I may be wrong in my views (regarding the politics
of the AMA, ADA, FDA, profit based pharmaceutical and medical device
companies)

... but I hold my views (that most are TRYING to do the "right" thing)
simply because it would be way too difficult to perform my job, if I
worried about all of the allegations and the politics.

Jan, you know I am not a doctor or dentist. I am not a PhD. I have
bachelor' degree, some additional certifications, and ongoing college
and post graduate coursework. That is all.

I simply work in research (20 yrs within a medical device company).

Therefore whatever I say should be taken ONLY as a layperson
(patient's) viewpoint, not as a doctor, dentist or scientist's
authority.

**********************************************************************************************
Jan, I am happy that you are finding some relief from migraine pain
with the NTI if this is true!

Best wishes,
Sue

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