Click this link to read a post I like on the clusterheadaches.com message board...

BryanSch

CH.com Newbie

Offline

I Love CH.com!

Posts: 17

Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus?
Oct 2^nd, 2010 at 7:22pm

I recently came across this web page:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

In which the writer claims clusters are caused by an abnormality in the Hypothalamus -

"This abnormality is an extra-thick layer of cells. It is something CH sufferers are born with"

This sounds like a reasonable explanation, as the Hypothalamus regulates many things related to typical cluster cycles (sleep, seasonal changes, appetite).

I'm curious if anyone knows of any real study done on this, or if it is just a theory presented by the writer of this page. Do let me know if you know of something!

Bryan

Back to top

IP Logged

Click Here to visit the CH.com Facebook page!

George CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline Black-Billed Magpie Posts: 8126 Boise, Idaho USA Gender:	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #1 - Oct 2^nd, 2010 at 7:30pm Here's one. There are more. Use google scholar using keywords "Goadsby" and "hypothalamus". Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or Best, George
Back to top	"Whoever loveth me, loveth my hound." (Thomas More, author of "Utopia", and Chancellor of England. 1477-1535) IP Logged

BryanSch CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 17	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #2 - Oct 2^nd, 2010 at 7:37pm Thanks George, Man I wish medical documents were a bit more . . . plot driven. Going to plunge in and decipher this thing now. See you during my next cycle. Thanks!! B
Back to top	IP Logged

boski CH.com Alumnus Offline CH'S Suck for all that Suffer / The Pain The Pain Posts: 208 NYC Gender:	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #3 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 12:23am It's a defect we have!
Back to top	IP Logged

Mike NZ

CH.com Hall of Famer

Offline

Oxygen rocks! D3 too!

Posts: 3785
Auckland, New Zealand
Gender: male

Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus?
Reply #4 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 12:30am

Has there been any research on this that answers the following questions?

Has this layer of cells been detected on all people tested who have CH?
Are there people with this layer of cells who never develop CH?
If this layer of cells is present from birth, what causes it to start causing CHs?
For people who are episodic, what causes it to start / stop / restart?

The answers to these questions will be very interesting and are no doubt being worked on.

Back to top

IP Logged

Agostino Leyre CH.com Sponsor Offline "Hit like a phillips head into my brain." Posts: 3803 Madison WI USA Gender:	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #5 - Oct 4^th, 2010 at 10:44am The problem with your questions, Mike, is that in order to examine some one's hypothalamus, you have to slice their brain in half. So the best studies are going to be on dead people.
Back to top	Triptans cause increased number of hits and increased intensity. Learn it, believe it, live it. I use triptans as the absolute LAST RESORT when treating my CH.&& IP Logged

monty

CH.com Hall of Famer

Offline

Posts: 1056
The Swamp, Florida

Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus?
Reply #6 - Oct 7^th, 2010 at 11:27pm

I haven't looked at that research recently, but I believe that they have not clearly shown any anatomical differences - using special scanners, they showed functional problems (unusual patterns of activity that initiated cluster headaches). And these patterns went back to normal when a person was not in cycle.

Could there be an anatomical issue? Yes, possibly. The risk of cluster headaches is partly associated with a history of traumatic brain injury, that could be an issue that changes the brain anatomy in a key region. But it could also be a biochemical abnormality that changes the function of the hypothalamus.

Back to top

The outer boundary of what we currently believe is feasible is far short of what we actually must do.

IP Logged

black CH.com Old Timer Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 347 Greece,Athens Gender:	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #7 - Oct 8^th, 2010 at 12:29am Quote: The answers to these questions will be very interesting and are no doubt being worked on ??where?who?
Back to top	Oh come on!it's just water.It can't be that bad! IP Logged

Gator Bill CH.com Newbie Offline When the going gets tough...the tough suck O2! Posts: 22	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #8 - Oct 8^th, 2010 at 2:28pm black wrote on Oct 8^th, 2010 at 12:29am: Quote: The answers to these questions will be very interesting and are no doubt being worked on ??where?who? In the pentagon by "the Man"!
Back to top	IP Logged

Click Here to visit the CH.com Facebook page!

wimsey1

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

I Love CH.com!

Posts: 2457
MA
Gender: male

Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus?
Reply #9 - Oct 12^th, 2010 at 8:25am

I'm going out on a limb, here, but I read an article about a year ago that indicated CH sufferer's had an extra ganglion of nerves in the hypothalmus. I also think it was from research in Australia (Dr Goadsby?). The determination was made using PET scans comparing affected and nonaffected test clients. Anyone else remember, or know, about this article? Blessings. lance

Back to top

IP Logged

Bob P CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Shut up Bob! Posts: 4573 Clio,California Gender:	Re: Clusters caused by layer of cells in Hypothalamus? Reply #10 - Oct 13^th, 2010 at 8:12am Dr Goadsby is Austrailian but was working in London at the time of the discovery. He is now at the University of San Francisco.
Back to top	Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron. "SHUT UP HUB!" IP Logged

	Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
	Search box updated Dec 3, 2011... Search ch.com with Google!