Headaches: They May Be Genetically Linked To Irritable Bowel Syndrome

New research presented by the American Academy of Neurology shows that migraine and tension-type headaches may have genetic links with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The study results showed that more than half of participants with migraines and close to over a quarter with tension headaches also had IBS. According to researchers, patients with IBS may have a gene that results in problem when compared to healthy individuals.

"Since headache and irritable bowel syndrome are such common conditions, and causes for both are unknown, discovering a possible link that could shed light on shared genetics of the conditions is encouraging," said lead author Dr. Derya Uluduz of Istanbul University in Turkey in a statement. 

The study looked at over 100 people with migraines, about 50 with tension-type headaches and over 100 people with IBS. Fifty-three of participants in the study were without any conditions.

Findings showed that those with migraines were about twice as likely as those with tension headaches to also have IBS. Specifics came out to be 54 percent versus 28 percent, and of those with IBS, 38 also had migraines and 24 had tension headaches, investigators found. 

Lastly, the study authors found that people with IBS, migraine or tension headache had at least one gene that differed from those of people without any of the disorders.

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