Learn About Migraine Research Studies

What Are Migraine Research Studies?

Migraines are headaches distinguished by a mild to severe throbbing/pounding sensation in different head regions. They are one-sided or may occur across the intracranial region depending on triggers, causes, and other factors. Patients experience disabling effects as the pain worsens, leading to poor quality of life.

Pharmaceutical companies, research centers, and healthcare facilities collaborate on different trials and programs to conduct research. Clinical studies about migraines examine conventional, modern, and alternative therapies to treat head pain. Professionals study pain patterns, trace triggers that cause the pain, and compare the efficacy of trial drugs through clinical studies.

Most researchers observe how well patients respond to a new intervention by comparing test groups that receive treatments with placebo groups that undergo sham treatments. Drugs and therapy techniques that receive a positive response with high efficacy and through noninvasive and safe applications are then developed for mass treatment.

In addition to clinical trials, there are meta-reviews to track the progress of an approved drug, different trial phases, and varying responses to integrative approaches. These studies are then published in medical journals and promoted through public awareness campaigns to educate professionals and patients. In turn, these steps ensure everyone receives quality care.

Why Is Migraine Being Studied Through Research?

Over 12% of American adults experience mild to severe migraine attacks. Risk factors include genetics, lifestyle, environmental changes, and gender. According to the John Hopkins University of Medicine, women are thrice as likely to deal with headaches than men. Researchers often describe the leading cause of migraine as a neurological defect caused by “genetic mutations.”

Symptoms include headaches and facial pain that may sometimes spread across the neck. Sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting also manifest during a migraine attack. Additionally, some patients experience an aura that creates neurological disturbances such as numbness, dizziness, confusion, speech impairment, and blurry vision.

Migraine research studies assist medical professionals in understanding the brain mechanisms and genetic components influencing migraine pain. Knowing the cause and triggers allows researchers to test the efficacy of drugs and develop new models to mitigate migraine attacks. These treatments and interventions for pain management can improve the quality of life in affected individuals.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Migraine?

Migraine treatments include a combination of prescribed medication, dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, supplementation, and other forms of therapy. Most interventions mitigate health risks and make symptoms manageable rather than completely curing the illness.

The most common types of treatments are highlighted below:

• Medication. The first line of medicines includes aspirin, sumatriptan, and ibuprofen. If that doesn’t work, medical professionals may prescribe triptans, anti-nausea pills, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and in severe cases, steroids or narcotics. Drugs for epilepsy, blood pressure regulation, and depression can often effectively alleviate migraine pain.
• Botox Injections. Supervised dosage of botulinum toxin injections in targeted areas can disable nerve transmission of pain signals and reduce headaches' intensity and frequency.
• Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Psychotherapy sessions can equip patients with coping strategies to manage everyday stressors that might trigger migraines. Individuals are taught to identify and resolve triggers to reduce pain intensity.
• Lifestyle Modifications. Dietary changes, regulated hydration, daily exercise, and healthy sleep patterns can limit health risks in migraine patients. They are also an excellent way to prevent headaches.

People living with migraines must rely on complementary and conventional therapies to manage pain. Early interventions support the best outcomes. This is why research studies are improving diagnostic and pain management tools to increase the efficacy of current and novel approaches in migraine treatment.

What Are Some Recent Breakthroughs in Research Studies for Migraine?

Migraine research studies explore different medical interventions to manage severe headaches. Here are the leading trials and reviews that introduced modern treatment options for mild to chronic migraines:

2014: Effectiveness of Treating Migraine with a Transnasal Sphenopalatine Ganglion (TSG) Blockade. Researchers from The Headache Care Center in Springfield conducted a randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of managing migraine pain with SPG blockade in patients dealing with chronic migraines. The trial divided 41 patients from two specialty clinics into different groups with a ratio of 2:1. Some subjects received a placebo, while others received a daily dose of the medication (0.5% bupivacaine). After the 6-week trial, patients receiving the drug reported significant improvement as their headaches decreased within 15 minutes to 24 hours after using SPG blockade. The patients did not report any long-lasting side effects that disrupted patient health. This is one of the first clinical trials in America that investigated the effectiveness of TSG as a drug for head pain and trauma.

2017: AVP-825 Breath Powered® Exhalation Delivery System (Sumatriptan Nasal Powder) vs. Oral Sumatriptan. Phase 3 of the comparative clinical trial by Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia evaluated the efficacy of AVP-825 (Sumatriptan Nasal Powder) vs. 100 mg oral sumatriptan, stating the need for non-oral medication for migraine treatment to counter symptoms such as nausea and vomiting that disrupts medication uptake. The randomized trial divided 185 patients into treatment vs. placebo groups for 12 weeks. They switched treatments midway to assess whether every migraine patient responded to nasal powder treatment similarly. Results proved the clinical advantages of using the intranasal delivery system to treat migraine with a low dosage of sumatriptan powder.

2019: Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Episodic Migraine. Researchers from the Department of Neurology, Wake Forest Baptist Health reviewed clinical trials and medical journals published between 2006-2008. Selected literature investigates the efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for migraine treatments. According to the longitudinal review, yoga, taichi, and mindfulness activities such as meditation benefit pain prevention interventions. Additionally, novel supplementation for headaches includes a combination of a high dose of vitamin B (80 gm) and folic acid (5mg). Alternatively, Vitamin D supplements, melatonin, and omega 3s exhibit higher efficacy levels and reduced side effects compared to conventional medications for migraine. The review concludes that integrative treatments can empower patients and support patient outcomes.

2020: Efficacy of Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) for Migraine. The randomized clinical trial determines the impact of continuous taVNS treatment vs. placebo treatments for 30 days. Seventy migraine patients participated in the trial and were divided into two groups in a 1:1 ratio. The researchers collected the results through resting-state functional MRIs taken before and after the treatment. The taVNS treatment targeted functional areas based on six priori-defined cortical regions across the cortex. The researchers conducted a seed-centered functional connective analysis across the brain to compare the effect of stimulation therapy. The participants who underwent treatment reported significant improvement with reduced pain intensity, migraine attack duration, and the number of days they experienced headaches after four weeks. The study proved that taVNS treatment generates favorable outcomes in treating migraine pain.

2020: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) to Manage Migraine Pain. The clinical study observed 266 female participants aged 18-45 through a month-long visual analog and migraine patient assessment survey. The research model shows that participants with the “greatest adherence” to the diet experienced severe headaches 30% less than those that did not follow the DASH diet. Those on a DASH diet experienced reduced severity and frequency of pain symptoms. The positive outcome shows a correlation between diet and headache triggers. Thereby, intentional modification of diet plans and meal intake can reduce the risks of frequent migraines in diagnosed patients.

2022: Phase 3 Trial of External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (e-TNS) for Acute Treatment of Migraine (TEAM). The clinical trial recorded monthly migraine pain patterns in 538 adult participants diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders. They were divided by a 1:1 ratio to undergo an active or sham (placebo) stimulation to determine the efficacy of External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (e-TNS). The researchers recorded pain levels and associated symptoms after 2 and 24 hours. Pain relief at the 24 mark was 11.5% higher in the group receiving the treatment compared to individuals taking the placebo. Consequently, researchers conclude that e-TNS can be a safe, non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for patients with migraines who don’t respond to or avoid medication.

Who Are Some Of The Key Researchers / Institutions Conducting Migraine Research Studies?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) aims to acquire fundamental knowledge on the risk factors associated with neurological illnesses such as migraine in America. Scientists are studying new models to understand the mechanisms of migraine, genetic components, and biochemical reactions. The organization currently studies the effectiveness of new-age therapies, such as magnesium supplementation, vitamin B12, coenzyme Q10, and other behavioral therapies.

American Migraine Foundation (AMF) was established in 2010 to advocate the importance of patient support for people living with migraines and severe headaches. The non-profit organization collaborates with the American Headache Society to initiate research and development programs for providing quality care to affected individuals nationwide. Additionally, it promotes advancements in research by raising awareness about viable treatment options. Increased access to necessary resources helps patients and professionals take the required steps to treat symptoms and disabling problems caused by severe pain.

The National Headache Foundation (NHF) is a non-profit organization that was launched in 1970. For decades, it has served as a central database for patients to find licensed professionals and treatments to alleviate headaches and migraines. It uses clinical innovation and advanced technology to raise public awareness of these neurobiological conditions. In addition, the organization supports initiatives to research novel approaches for treating and medicating head pain.

The Stanford Headache and Facial Pain Program Research is a research center under the Stanford University School of Medicine. It investigates novel approaches to diagnose and treat headaches through functional imaging, proteomics/genomics, and deep phenotyping. The research team explores the efficacy of lifestyle-based interventions, supervised medication, and the integration of telehealth tools for pain management.

Dr. Yohannes W. Woldeamanuel, M.D., is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Innovation in Global Health and an Instructor at the Stanford University School of Medicine for the Department of Neurology and Neurological Science. His clinical research focuses on developing digital tools for pain management in migraine sufferers, the benefits of lifestyle changes, and the risks of overusing pain medication to treat headaches. Additionally, he conducts studies to enhance diagnostic tools needed to identify and understand the complex relationship between chronic pain issues and migraines.