Headache

In medicine a headache or cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies.

Does the Location of a Headache Matter?

The location of a headache may be an important factor in identifying the cause of certain types of headaches, but not in all.

What is Muscle Contraction Headache?

Frequent Headaches after a Traumatic Brain Injury

What is Medication Overuse Headache?

Migraine with Aura vs. Migraine without Aura

Headache Evaluation in Children and Teenagers

Cluster Headaches: Treatment and Prevention

Biofeedback Therapy for Headaches

Headaches in Children and Teenagers

See more featured articles »

Can Contact Lenses Cause Headaches?

Headache Behind the Eyes: Understanding the Causes

Headache Related to Eye Problems

Latest Headache News and Research

Real-world data reveals higher reported GLP-1 side effects in female patients

The second of a Series of papers presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) and published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women's Health discusses the wide-ranging issues relating to use of GLP-1 RA drug use in women.

1 Oct 2026

Early-onset type 2 diabetes trial demonstrates significant 24-week fat loss

New research to be presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Milan, Italy (Sept 28 – Oct 2) and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas journal shows that in people who have developed early onset type 2 diabetes (EOT2D) (aged under 45 years), around half these T2D cases can be reversed with a low-energy diet combined with a structured exercise program.

1 Oct 2026

Common anti-epileptic medication shows promise in reducing migraine aura

A new study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden found that 85 percent of patients with aura-dominant migraine experienced a reduction in monthly aura days by at least half following treatment with the anti-epileptic drug lamotrigine.

25 Sep 2026

GLP-1 drugs may influence chronic pain through gut-brain and immune pathways

Researchers reviewed evidence linking GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor agonists to chronic pain modulation through gut microbial, neuroimmune, vagal, and metabolic pathways, with the strongest clinical evidence currently involving knee osteoarthritis and idiopathic intracranial hypertension headache. Much of the proposed biology remains supported by preclinical research, and human studies have yet to establish that GLP-1RA-induced changes in the gut microbiome directly cause pain relief.

24 Sep 2026

Transient ischemic attacks linked to increased long-term dementia risk

Having a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published September 23, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Sep 2026

Stroke rates nearly doubled among younger adults over three decades

Stroke is becoming more common among younger adults, according to a study published September 23, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Sep 2026

New mRNA vaccine expands flu protection options for older adults

Every fall, millions of Americans heed the call to get their annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from influenza.

20 Sep 2026

Military blast exposure associated with long-term health conditions

Exposure to high-level blasts from incoming explosive devices or land mines among military veterans is associated with an increased risk of several conditions such as seizures, neuropathy and stroke years later, according to a study published September 16, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

16 Sep 2026

AI identifies hidden biological patterns to accurately diagnose migraines

AI can trawl vast amounts of health data which is not specifically related to migraines, but which can be used to identify people predisposed to the condition.

11 Sep 2026

Tizanidine looked promising early in a migraine trial, but the benefit did not last

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that low-dose tizanidine did not provide sustained reductions in headache burden over 12 weeks in people with episodic migraine, despite a transient improvement with the 1 mg dose at week 4. Exploratory analyses suggested that smoking and sex may influence tizanidine exposure, while sex-specific efficacy signals remained hypothesis-generating and require confirmation.

10 Sep 2026

Early B-cell therapy linked to better MS disease control

For people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), early treatment choices were associated with only slight differences after two years, based on the first treatment they used, according to a study published September 9, 2026, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

9 Sep 2026

Immigrants face longer ICU stays after stroke in Canada

Among people who have a stroke in Canada, immigrants were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at similar rates as long-term residents or people who were born in Canada, but they were more likely to have longer stays in the ICU, according to a study published September 2, 2026, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Sep 2026

AAN launches new resource to help people find reliable information about brain health

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has launched BrainHealth.com, a new public resource offering expert-reviewed information, tools and stories to help people improve and protect their brain health.

1 Sep 2026

New guideline updates medications for preventing migraine in adults

To help clinicians determine which medications may be most effective at preventing migraine in adults, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Headache Society (AHS) have issued a joint practice guideline update with evidence-based recommendations, published on August 31, 2026, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, and in Headache, the official journal of the American Headache Society.

31 Aug 2026

Seminal fluid facilitates monkeypox virus entry into human cells

Monkeypox virus used to be transmitted predominantly from animals to humans. In recent years, however, new virus variants have become increasingly capable of spreading from person to person.

31 Aug 2026

Brain shrinkage biomarker may predict early-onset Alzheimer’s progression

In people diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, a biomarker tool that detects shrinkage of the brain's gray matter may predict how quickly someone may progress from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia, according to a new study published August 26, 2026, in Neurology, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

27 Aug 2026

Research improves understanding of biological mechanisms behind cluster headaches

Inflammation, altered gene regulation, and exposure to substances in tobacco smoke may all contribute to the development of cluster headache.

26 Aug 2026

Paternal valproate use not linked to offspring neurodevelopmental risks

Use of the antiseizure drug valproate by fathers before conception is not associated with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in their children, according to a new study published August 19, 2026, in Neurology®, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

19 Aug 2026

Women with type 2 diabetes saw striking changes after 24 weeks of this eating pattern

A 24-week randomized trial found that a lacto-vegetarian diet combined with 14-hour time-restricted eating improved glycemic control, insulin resistance, body weight, and lipid measures in Indian women with type 2 diabetes. The combined, nutritionist-supported intervention was generally well tolerated, but its individual dietary and fasting effects cannot be separated and longer-term studies are needed.

18 Aug 2026

Why keto appears to lower blood pressure for some people but not others

A narrative review finds that ketogenic diets may modestly lower blood pressure through weight loss, reduced visceral fat, improved insulin sensitivity, fluid and electrolyte shifts, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, effects vary across studies, long-term cardiovascular evidence remains limited, and diet quality, hydration, electrolyte balance, and medication monitoring are important.

17 Aug 2026