A recent study has shed light on the potential cause of migraines and the source of the pain they cause.

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According to the “Medical Investigations” journal, researchers from the University of North Carolina have identified a small protein called “peptide” associated with the calcitonin gene, or CGRP as it is commonly known.

While the influence of CGRP on migraine pain is well known, scientists have revealed in the new study its significant impact on the brain’s “plumbing” system.

Dr. Kathleen Caron, a participant in the study, explains that “migraine pain is influenced by variable interactions with immune cells and by the inhibition of cerebrospinal fluid drainage from the meningeal lymphatic vessels by CGRP.”

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She clarifies that “the brain has its own drainage system, similar to pipes in a house, called the lymphatic system, which helps remove excess cerebrospinal fluid and allows immune cells to patrol the brain’s protective layers. During a migraine attack, CGRP levels rise in these areas.”

The study showed that this increase in CGRP protein not only affects pain signals but actually changes how the brain’s drainage pipes function, as if the protein is tightening the “pipes,” preventing the fluid from flowing easily in the brain.

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It was also found that the cells lining the lymphatic vessels contain a special protein called VE-Cadherin that works like “Velcro” (double-sided adhesive), keeping the cells together. When exposed to the CGRP protein, this Velcro rearranges itself into a very tight formation, preventing fluids from passing through.