While migraines may feel debilitating, studies show they won't halt your brain power.

In a recent study conducted by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the BMJ found that though migraines may hurt those who suffer from them, they at least seem to play no role in the overall cognitive decline of study participants. The study was generated by analyzing the Women’s Health Study and some 6,349 women who supplied information about their migraine status and later participated in further cognitive testing. BMJ’s research study took an in-depth look at the overall cognitive decline of women in four groups: those with a history of migraines, those with migraines with aura (sensory, mortal or verbal disturbances, most often seen as visual auras) those with migraines without aura and those who have no history of migraines. Researchers found after examining each of the study groups that those with a history of migraines (with aura or without) had no more significant cognitive decline than that of study participants without a history of migraines.

The BMJ study was the first significant in-depth study done on the relation of migraines and cognitive decline as other studies on the topic were conducted in short or relatively small studies that were unable to find a link between migraines and cognitive decline. After analyzing the study data, the ending result found that though migraines may be painful for those who suffer from them, they have little to no effect on the overall cognitive decline of sufferers.

Science Blog, a site dedicated to the discovery and study of science, talks more about the British Medical Journal study in the article “Migraines Hurt Your Head But Not Your Brain.”