Migraine

A migraine is a severe headache causing pain in the front or side of the head. In the UK, migraines affect about 15% of the population and the headaches are three times more common among women than men. Migraines usually first start in young adulthood but it is possible for the headaches to start later in life.

What are Migraines?

Migraine is a severe form of headache felt as a throbbing pain at the front or side of the head. Migraines may also be accompanied by other symptoms such as a sensitivity to light or nausea.

Can Reflexology Help Ease Migraines?

Migraine Pathophysiology

Migraine Diagnosis

Can Weather or Air Pollution Trigger Migraine?

Is There a Link Between Migraine and the Gut Microbiome?

Migraines and Dementia

Migraine and the Heart

Migraine History

Migraine with Aura vs. Migraine without Aura

Migraine Symptoms

Common Migraine Triggers

See more featured articles »

Migraine Treatments

Does Exercise Help or Worsen Migraines?

Can Contact Lenses Cause Headaches?

Differences Between an Aneurysm and Migraine

Migraine research

Migraine is Just like Asthma. No, Really.

What are Disease Modifying Migraine Drugs (DMMDs)?

Can Meditation Help Migraines?

Do Migraines Increase Risk of Stroke?

Body Posture and Migraines

What Foods Can Cause Migraines?

Economic Impact of Migraines

Latest Migraine News and Research

Smartphone app for muscle relaxation reduces migraine disability in ED patients

A smartphone app for muscle relaxation significantly reduced migraine-related disability in patients visiting the emergency department, a new study shows.

16 Oct 2025

WHO's new Global status report highlights the growing burden of neurological disorders

The World Health Organization (WHO) today warns that less than one in three countries around the world has a national policy to address the growing burden of neurological disorders, responsible for over 11 million deaths globally each year.

14 Oct 2025

Common painkiller and antidepressant combo may increase seizure risk in older adults

When older adults living in nursing homes are prescribed the pain medicine tramadol alongside certain antidepressants, their risk of seizures may go up, according to a study published October 8, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

8 Oct 2025

Long-term exposure to industrial solvent associated with elevated Parkinson's disease risk

Long-term exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) outdoors may be linked to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a large nationwide study published in the October 1, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

2 Oct 2025

Discovery of EP2 receptor opens path to pain relief without blocking inflammation

Scientists at the NYU Pain Research Center have identified which receptor in prostaglandins-the hormone-like substance targeted by common painkillers-causes pain but not inflammation.

25 Sep 2025

Skin-to-skin care linked to stronger brain development in preterm infants

Preterm infants born before 32 weeks who received more skin-to-skin contact while in the hospital showed stronger brain development in areas tied to emotion and stress regulation than babies who received less skin-to-skin care, according to a study published in the September 24, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Sep 2025

Cognitive challenges rise sharply among younger adults in the U.S.

A growing number of U.S. adults-particularly those under 40-are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration and decision-making, according to a new study published in the September 24, 2025, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Sep 2025

New research links postictal symptoms in epilepsy to hidden brain waves

In everyday clinical practice, symptoms are regularly observed after epileptic seizures, known as "post-ictal symptoms", which, in contrast to the usually short duration of seizures, typically last several minutes to hours. Besides symptoms such as impaired speech and language comprehension, a state of disorientation may occur.

19 Sep 2025

Researchers identify seizure-associated depolarization as cause of post-ictal symptoms

People with temporal lobe epilepsy in particular often wander around aimlessly and unconsciously after a seizure. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have identified a neurobiological mechanism that could be responsible for this so-called post-ictal wandering and potentially other postictal symptoms.

18 Sep 2025

Frequent soccer heading linked to alterations within the folds of the brain

In amateur soccer players, more frequent heading, or using the head to control or pass the ball, is linked to alterations within the folds of the brain, according to a study published on September 17, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Sep 2025

Physical frailty linked to higher dementia risk

A new study suggests that physical frailty may contribute to the development of dementia. The study was published on September 17, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Sep 2025

Ketogenic diets may lower migraine frequency and medication use

This narrative review argues that the migraine brain is hypometabolic, with converging evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired glucose handling, neuroinflammation, microbiome shifts, and obesity-related pathways. It proposes ketogenic diets as a plausible preventive strategy that may reduce monthly migraine days and medication use, while emphasizing the need for larger, rigorous randomized trials and careful clinical oversight.

14 Sep 2025

Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age-along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans-than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Sep 2025

Study links high intake of artificial sweeteners to faster cognitive decline

Some sugar substitutes may come with unexpected consequences for long-term brain health, according to a study published in the September 3, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Sep 2025

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander people face highest stroke rates in the U.S.

A new study found that Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander people had the highest rate of stroke among people from other race and ethnic groups, with a rate more than three times higher than that of white people.

28 Aug 2025

Hormone therapy type may influence postmenopausal cognitive health

The type of estradiol-based hormone therapy taken during and after menopause, such as patches or pills, may be associated with differences in memory performance, according to a study published on August 27, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

28 Aug 2025

Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation shows promise for gastrointestinal disorders

Imbalanced autonomic function, characterized by reduced vagal activity and sympathetic dominance, is increasingly recognized in various gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

27 Aug 2025

Metabolic syndrome linked to higher risk of Parkinson's disease

Having a larger waistline, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published on August 20, 2025, in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

20 Aug 2025

Pregnancy complications may signal early stroke risk

Experiencing complications during pregnancy is linked with a higher risk of stroke before age 50, according to a study published August 6, 2025, in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

6 Aug 2025

UCSF research maps over 600 conditions linked to endometriosis

Records from millions of patients at UC health centers found correlations between endometriosis, one of the most common diseases in women, and a bounty of other diseases.

31 Jul 2025