270 | id == 270
270 | category_id == 19
270 | category_order == 16
270 | category_name == Pain
270 | category_color == #C47AC0
270 | slug == MEF2D-pain
270 | title == A Neurological Connection Between Stress and Migraines? (MEF2D)
270 | meta_description == MEF2D may increase the activity of neurons and the incidence of migraines. Could your brain be more sensitive to pain signals?
270 | summary == <p><strong>MEF2D may increase the activity of neurons and the incidence of migraines. Could your brain be more sensitive to pain signals? Find out here.</strong></p>
270 | overall_score_text == Migraine Score (based on MEF2D)
270 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/MEF2D--Pain-Headaches-Migraine.jpg
270 | author_id == 1
270 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
270 | author_title == BSc, BEd
270 | author_order == 36
270 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
270 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
270 | reviewer_id == 14
270 | reviewer_name == Shany Lahan
270 | reviewer_title == MS (Neuroscience)
270 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
270 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
270 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
270 | publish_date == 2020
270 | publish_date == 8
270 | publish_date == 13
270 | avg_rating == 4.666666666666667
270 | tags_id == 69
270 | tags_name == Headache
270 | tags_id == 610
270 | tags_name == MEF2D Gene
270 | tags_id == 31
270 | tags_name == Migraine
270 | tags_id == 224
270 | tags_name == Nervous System
270 | tags_id == 611
270 | tags_name == Neuron Excitability
270 | tags_id == 71
270 | tags_name == Pain
270 | permissions_favorite == False
270 | permissions_rate == False
270 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have persistent or unexplained pain, it is important to discuss these concerns with your doctor. The information in this post is presented for educational purposes only, and should not be used to replace standard medical care.</span></em></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes a protein called myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2D (also abbreviated MEF2D) [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MEF2D"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D is a member of the Mef2 family of proteins. They are most active during the development of the embryo, but in adults, they help manage the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/factors-counteract-stress-response/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in nerve cells and, possibly, blood vessels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17959722/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6734342/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D is currently being researched for its potential role in a number of diseases ranging from </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">migraines</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5762387/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">What are Migraines?</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Migraines are a type of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headache</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that cause intense </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/23-ways-to-combat-pain-naturally-by-increasing-your-opioids/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, usually accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue, stiffness, nausea, and sensitivity to light [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/migraine"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Migraine attacks can last for multiple days and typically go through three phases: the prodromal phase (before the headache), the headache phase, and the postdromal phase (after the headache) [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/migraine"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The prodromal phase may include extreme fatigue, nausea, muscle stiffness, extreme sensitivity to light, and other symptoms. Some people may also experience a visual phenomenon called aura, in which the sufferer may have blind spots, or see flashes of light or colour [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/migraine"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Could MEF2D Promote Migraines?</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D promotes cell growth and division and is believed to directly influence brain activity. More specifically, some research suggests that MEF2D increases neuronal excitability, or the rate at which neurons fire in the brain, by increasing their sensitivity to stimuli [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3986694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some studies suggest that migraines may be caused by imbalances in the relative sensitivity of neurons; highly active neurons may be at the root of painful migraine attacks [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3986694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6402597/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3451832/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">MEF2D is a protein that may increase the activity of neurons, which may in turn increase the incidence of migraines.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D Variants &amp; Migraine</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several variants in </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> have been associated with migraine. Of these, some have been found to have a small but significant link to migraine (rs2274316-C, rs1925950-G, rs12136718-A), while others appear to have more dramatic effects [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4031047/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4041123/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5331903/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two variants with potentially larger effects are rs3790455 and rs1050316. The minor &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele at rs3790455 and the minor &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele at rs1050316 have each been linked to significantly higher rates of migraine [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3773912/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3986694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your MEF2D Results for Migraine</span></h2> <p>*4811371149336421*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><strong>MEF2D rs2274316</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with slightly lower incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with slightly higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>MEF2D rs12136718</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with increased incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with slightly higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>MEF2D rs1925950</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with slightly lower incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with slightly higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>MEF2D rs3790455</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with lower incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C = Associated with higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>MEF2D rs1050316</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with lower incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p>*6787107397992149*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Reducing Migraine</span></h2> <p>*3782264011026759*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Applied heat activates the </span><a href="https://www.selfdecode.com/gene/trpv1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> heat pain receptor, which in turn increases </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression. One way to reduce TRPV1 activation is by activating its opposing cold receptor, TRPM8 [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6325605/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1574235/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/12-reasons-embrace-cold/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cold therapy</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has also been used in the treatment of migraines for over 150 years. Different devices applying cold to the head and neck have been successfully tested in several clinical trials [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3941818/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3243707/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2584002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11975819/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1697736/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3727573/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Applied cold may soothe migraine pain by reducing the activation of the TRPV1 heat pain receptor, which in turn decreases </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression.</span></span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress Management</span></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D is believed to play a role in </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> management and may be activated in response to psychological stress. Stress has also been proposed as a migraine trigger, and stress management strategies may help reduce the incidence of migraines in people who are susceptible to them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129240/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Migraine-Information-Page"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress and the perception of threats are also believed to increase pain. The following mental/emotional factors can affect pain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10954644"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12071487"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22115492"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thoughts</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emotions</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social and familial support</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cultural background</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Context and memory associated with the pain</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clinical hypnosis can reduce pain in adults and children, and has been observed to reduce migraines [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18714889"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2752362/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">MEF2D may be activated in response to psychological stress; stress management strategies are therefore recommended to help reduce pain.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet</span></h3> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coffee and Tea</span></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/caffeine-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caffeine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a part of different FDA-approved drugs for migraine and tension </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headaches</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, along with Tylenol, aspirin, sumatriptan, diclofenac, and others [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10524663/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14756851/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3452084/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3484257/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4256978/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12917936/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170908/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Oddly, caffeine has actually been found to increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">MEF2D</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene expression in muscle cell studies. However, these studies have no bearing on what caffeine may do to MEF2D in the brain. Future studies are needed to clarify this relationship [</span><a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/ajpendo.00312.2007"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269671/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 clinical trials on almost 350 people, caffeine (both oral and intravenous) helped prevent postoperative headaches [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7497559/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9212763/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ironically, headache is one of the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, which can be a limitation for its long-term use [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430790/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most significant dietary sources of caffeine are coffee and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/theaflavins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">black tea</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Despite its effect on MEF2D in muscle cells, caffeine is included in many FDA-approved migraine medications. Caffeine may have a completely different effect in neurons than in muscle cells.</span></p>
270 | content_snp_table_4811371149336421_key == 4811371149336421
270 | content_snp_table_4811371149336421_blur == True
270 | content_snp_table_4811371149336421_hidden == False
270 | content_learn_more_6787107397992149_key == 6787107397992149
270 | content_learn_more_6787107397992149_blur == True
270 | content_learn_more_6787107397992149_hidden == False
270 | content_learn_more_6787107397992149_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your MEF2D gene is somewhat associated with migraine. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of migraines, just one gene related to them. Stress management, cold therapy, and caffeine may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
270 | content_recommendation_3782264011026759_key == 3782264011026759
270 | content_recommendation_3782264011026759_blur == True
270 | content_recommendation_3782264011026759_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs12136718,rs3790455,rs1050316,rs2274316,rs1925950
rsStatus = rs12136718,,chr1,156439793,G,A,,,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs3790455,MEF2D,chr1,156486509,C,T,,,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1050316,MEF2D,chr1,156464911,G,A,C,T,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2274316,MEF2D,chr1,156476450,C,A,G,T,44,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs1925950,MEF2D,chr1,156480948,G,A,C,,29,0,Normal
