OLFACTION IN MIGRAINE

Olfactory thresholds for acetone and vanillin and the unpleasantness r ating of concentrated acetone were measured in 20 migraine sufferers a nd 21 controls. The olfactory threshold for vanillin was lower in migr aine sufferers than in controls. In addition, patients who reported th at odours frequently seemed stronger during attacks of migraine were a ble to detect acetone at a lower concentration than most other patient s. No differences were found between migraine sufferers and controls f or ratings of the unpleasantness of concentrated acetone. These findin gs suggest that hyperacuity to odours persists between episodes of mig raine. Sensitivity to odours could contribute to the migraine predispo sition.