Our changing understanding of migraine and what it means for treatment

iStock.com/ Pheelings Media

By Caroline Williams

Decades of research into the role of trigeminal nerve activity have produced the first effective new treatments in years – and more therapies are on the way.

Migraines are painful, unpredictable, and notoriously difficult to treat. They are also common, affecting 10 million people in the UK and more than a billion worldwide.

Research by the Migraine Trust suggests that the true numbers may be even higher. As many as half of sufferers are never officially diagnosed, often putting their symptoms down to stress, muscle tension or a lack of sleep.

Even for those who do get a diagnosis, treatments are difficult to come by, with up to 40% failing to respond to any available drugs.

Now though, recent developments in our understanding of the mechanisms behind migraine – and the technology to design new drugs to block them – are raising hopes for a new era for treatment.

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder, with symptoms including throbbing, one-sided head pain, nausea and sensitivity to light. Attacks can last for several days, with devastating effects on quality of life. Globally, migraines cause some three million sick days every year.