Borkum’s research focuses on link between migraine triggers, oxidative stress

Migraines can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, sleep disruption, noise, odors and diet. Recent research by Jonathan Borkum, an adjunct associate professor of psychology at the University of Maine, indicates that many of these factors converge on a common pathway involving oxidative stress.

When Borkum, a UMaine alumnus, examined studies on migraine triggers published between 1990 and 2014, he found nearly all traditional triggers had a propensity to generate oxidative stress, an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and the ability of the body to counteract their harmful effects.

The findings suggest antioxidants could help prevent or pre-empt migraines, according to a Wiley press release.

“These data hint that an acute migraine attack may be an attempt by the brain to protect itself, and possibly — when you look at certain chemicals released during an attack — to heal itself,” Borkum said. “Understanding migraines may ultimately teach us how we, too, can protect the brain.”

Borkum’s findings are documented in his paper, “Migraine Triggers and Oxidative Stress: A Narrative Review and Synthesis,” published in Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain.