CGRP and Migraine

It has been discovered and noted that activation of trigeminal pathways to the meninges is what’s responsible for the onset of migraine pain; many migraine symptoms are activated through CGRP relevant neurons associated with the trigeminal vascular system.

CGRP—calcitonin gene-related peptide—is a neurotransmitter involved in sensory transmission and found in all parts of the body, including…

• Skin cells
• Keratinocytes
• Gut
• Brain
• Peripheral nervous system
• Associated sensory nerve endings in all parts of the nervous system
• It’s a basal dilator
• It has been discovered that acknowledging that activation of trigeminal pathways to the meninges, specific pathways ultimately is what’s responsible for the onset of migraine pain and many of the migraine symptoms are activated through CGRP relevant neurons associated with the trigeminal vascular system.

During a headache:

• People have elevated CGRP levels in their blood
• Activation of CGRP and then activation of its downstream receptors is what drives many symptoms including pain associated with migraine
• When their headache resolves (let’s say after a dose of sumatriptan) their CGRP levels go down