People who suffer from migraines with aura are at a slightly increased risk of having strokes. The cause of this association is not known. However, recent research suggests that having migraine aura is also a risk factor for having a genetic abnormality which raises homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid, which occurs naturally in the body, but having too much homocysteine is known to increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It is possible that the increased risk of strokes in migraine with aura is due to elevated homocysteine level. Having migraine with aura does not increase the risk of heart attacks, so high homocysteine is probably only a partial reason. Fortunately, to reduce homocysteine level all one has to do is take vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid. Australian researchers who discovered this link between migraine with aura and high homocysteine level also conducted a treatment study. They gave half of the patients vitamin supplements and the other half, placebo. Patients who took vitamins had lower homocysteine levels (and possibly the risk of strokes) and also had fewer and milder migraine attacks, compared to patients who took placebo. The dose used in the study was 2 mg of folic acid, 25 mg of vitamin B6, and 400 mcg of vitamin B12. If you suffer from migraine with aura you may want to ask your doctor to check your homocysteine level. If your level is high, take these vitamins – they may help with no risk of side effects.