ATLANTA -- Patients who suffer from migraine headaches complain that the attacks can be crippling. A new study, however, indicates that frequent migraines can be a sign of something more serious: The patient's brain may be damaged.

Migraines, also known as vascular headaches, occur when blood vessels constrict, decreasing blood flow and oxygen to certain areas of the brain. One in five people who suffer from migraines have what is known as migraines with aura.

"They can have flashing lights (or) see zig zag lights," said Dr. Barney Stern, a neurologist at Emory University. "If you remember when you were a kid and you looked in a kaleidoscope and saw those complex patterns, that is what a patient with a migraine with aura will typically speak to."

Researchers in a recent study compared the MRIs of patients who suffered from migraines to those of patients who did not have the headaches.

The scientists found that migraine patients had small areas where the tissue of the brain had actually died.

Those who suffered from frequent migraines, or aura migraines, were 13-16 times more likely to have the changes, which indicate some form of brain damage.

Said Stern: "Any one lesion is quite small and the chances of the patients having symptoms from them is really quite small. On the other hand, if multiple small lesions are present in the aggregate one might develop symptoms over time. "

Researchers also found that migraine patients who smoked, had high blood pressure and those on birth control pills might be at higher risk for the brain lesions.

Stern said such patients should try to prevent migraines from occurring and eliminate those situations that might trigger an attack.

"Try to get on a program to prevent the occurence of migraine either by dietary or behavior changes or else with medications that are specifically used to prevent migraine attacks," he said.