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Updated: May 28, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
New Directions in Migraine Pathophysiology: The Glymphatic System and PACAP
Dan Iulian Cuciureanu1,2, Cătălina Elena Bistriceanu1,3, Georgiana-Anca Vulpoi1,4
1Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Migraine pathophysiology involves the glymphatic system and PACAP. Glymphatic dysfunction may worsen migraine by accumulating inflammatory mediators and enhancing PACAP signaling, impacting young adults.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Migraine significantly affects young adults' quality of life.
- Current research explores migraine pathophysiology, focusing on CGRP, the glymphatic system, and PACAP.
- The trigeminovascular pathways are central to migraine attacks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current literature on the glymphatic system and PACAP in migraine pathophysiology.
- To explore the link between glymphatic clearance failure and migraine attacks.
- To discuss recent hypotheses on PACAP pathways and glymphatic dysfunction in migraine.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on migraine pathophysiology.
- Analysis of the role of inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides.
- Examination of the glymphatic system's function in relation to CGRP, CSD, and sleep.
- Discussion of PACAP pathways and their potential interaction with glymphatic dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Failure of glymphatic clearance may lead to the accumulation of mediators activating trigeminovascular pathways during migraine.
- Neuroinflammation, CGRP, cortical spreading depression (CSD), and sleep are interconnected with the glymphatic system and migraine.
- Glymphatic dysfunction might potentiate PACAP-mediated signaling, contributing to migraine.
Conclusions:
- The glymphatic system and PACAP pathways represent crucial areas for understanding migraine pathophysiology.
- Dysfunctional glymphatic clearance and enhanced PACAP signaling are potential contributors to migraine attacks.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the correlations between these mechanisms and migraine.
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