Over 30 million people are estimated to live with migraine pain and out of that number, about 40 to 50 percent do not respond to conventional medical treatment. However, there's a new future of treatment in sight: transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation has gained a lot of attention recently in its treatment of various psychological and personality disorders, specifically depression. But according to recent studies from Ohio State University Medical Center and the University of California, using transcranial magnetic stimulation to aid in the treatment of migraines, specifically those with aura, has proved to be successful.

In the Ohio State study, 164 patients were treated using magnetics. Nearly 40% of that group reported having no pain two hours after treatment, compared to the 22% in the placebo group. These findings were presented at the annual American Headache Society meeting in Boston in June 2008.

In addition, researchers conducted an animal study at the University of California. One of the main findings of the experiment that magnetic pulses have a biological basis for working for people with migraines. The research was reported to the American Academy of Neurology and more studies could follow as neurologists look for new approaches to treatment.

Posted by Jay Roberts at 06:25 PM | Permalink