Health
Midlife headaches hike vision loss risk
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 28, 2007
Those who experience headaches in middle age are more likely to have vision damage as they grow older, says a study in the May 15 Neurology.
Researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Approximately 22% of participants experienced migraines and other headaches, and this increased this risk of retinopathy by 30% to 50%. The association was even stronger for patients who did not have diabetes or hypertension, with migraine upping the chance of this type of eye disease by 70% to 80%.
The authors said this finding further supports the hypothesis that neurovascular dysfunction is the basis for vascular headaches.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/05/28/hlbf0528.htm.
