European Headache Federation

A new paper published in Journal of Headache and Pain dissected the genetic relationship between temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and anxiety.

TMD genetic risk includes both anxiety-related (~20%) and anxiety-independent components, with distinct biological pathways.

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

🧠 Fractal dimension analysis of cortical MRI morphology can differentiate individuals with episodic migraine from healthy controls, suggesting that subtle alterations in cortical structural complexity may serve as potential imaging biomarkers of migraine.

➡️ doi:10.1177/03331024251414616

A new review in The Journal of Headache and Pain explores the premonitory phase of primary headaches, highlighting shared and distinct mechanisms between migraine and cluster headache.

➡️ doi.org/10.1186/s101...

A recent study shows that Nr4a1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1) modulates microglial overactivation and neuroinflammation in a rat model of trigeminal neuralgia.

➡️ doi.org/10.1186/s101...

🚨 Can blocking oxytocin receptors trigger a migraine attack? New research shows that acute oxytocin antagonism doesn't provoke attacks, suggesting a more complex modulatory role for this hormone. 🧠✨

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

70 enthusiastic young doctors took part in the new School of Headache Essentials (SHE) – the first meeting on 20 February 2026 in Vilnius, Lithuania, was a great success! 🎉

Applications to host an SHE meeting will be accepted from 6 March. ➡️ www.ehf-headache.org/.../school-o....

Fig 1. Sagittal cryo-sections of the rat brain (schematic reworked from [38]). The coloured dots on the sections represent the immunohistochemical mapping of hormones and their receptors in the volume spanning 0.5 to 1.5 mm from the midline of the brain. Our group has earlier examined the distribution of hormones and their receptors [38-40]. The present figure shows the migraine related regions, CGRP, oxytocin, oestrogen, AVP and related receptors. OT: Oxytocin, OTR: Oxytocin receptor, ERα: Estrogen receptor alpha, AVP: Vasopressin, V1bR: Vasopressin receptor 1b.

Hypothalamic and sex-related #hormones in #migraine.

This review highlights the interplay between sex/reproductive hormones and hypothalamic hormones and their receptors in migraine-related neural structures.

Open access: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#medicine #neurology #headache

Interictal burden, not ictal burden, drives work productivity impairment in #headache disorders: insights from a Japanese cross-sectional study.

Open access: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
#neurology #migraine #medicine #burden

Growing evidence shows that sleep disruption is a feature of primary headache disorders.

A new systematic review found reduced sleep efficiency, increased night-time awakenings, and altered arousal patterns in migraine, with emerging similarities in cluster headache.

Read: doi.org/10.1186/s101...

New real-world data show effectiveness of eptinezumab in difficult-to-treat migraine patients.

In a multi-centre study, ~70% of patients achieved a ≥50% reduction in migraine days within 6 months, with major improvements in disability and quality of life.

Read more: doi.org/10.1186/s101...

New preclinical evidence strengthens the link between CGRP and migraine-associated photophobia.

CGRP induced light avoidance and headache-like pain in rats, closely mirroring human migraine provocation studies, offering strong translational relevance for studying migraine.

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

In a collaboration with Headache, Cephalalgia has published a series of 2025 highlights reflecting on a year of milestones across migraine and headache research.

These highlights cutting-edge work in headache medicine. Read from the collection here: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

This latest study reports the real-world data on medication-overuse headache from Egypt.

A preventable cause of chronic headache with major impact on patients’ lives, especially in low- and middle-income settings:
Read more: lnkd.in/eVWzaWja

#Migraine #JournalOfHeadacheAndPain #MedicationOveruse

A recent study introduces the “four dimensions (4D) migraine scale,” a composite tool that integrates key clinical and patient-centered features to better quantify migraine severity and treatment response.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

A new systematic review and meta-analysis from researchers on behalf of the European Headache Federation (EHF)—evaluates long-term (≥12 months) safety of monoclonal antibodies targeting the CGRP pathway for migraine prevention.

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

A comparative 7 T multimodal MRI study shows that migraine with aura is associated with distinct subcortical nuclei alterations and glymphatic dysfunction compared to migraine without aura and healthy controls.

👉 doi.org/10.1186/s101...

A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study found that sildenafil reliably induced headache but not migraine-like attacks in men with migraine without aura, contrasting with higher migraine induction in women.

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

New research shows that spreading depolarizations can activate the cGAS–STING immune pathway, fueling inflammation and head pain linked to migraine with aura.
The study also found that targeting this pathway may reduce pain responses in preclinical models.

doi.org/10.1186/s101...

The Journal of Headache and Pain is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Early Career Research Mentorship Program.
🧠 PhD, Postdocs & Residents
📝 Original Research or Review
🏆 10 APC waivers
✨ Opportunity to join the Junior Editorial Board
⏰ Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 (or until awards allocated)

Thanks to everyone who joined us at the European Headache Congress 2025. Your support made the meeting unforgettable.

📸 Got photos? Tag us! We’d love to see your moments from the congress.

🌍 Planning ahead—2026 details coming soon. Keep an eye on our social channels and the website for updates.

The EHF School of Advanced Studies (SAS) meet at the Congress in Lisbon! 🧠✨

The SAS offers high-level training for early-career clinicians & researchers to deepen their expertise in migraine and headache medicine.

Want to join the 2026 cohort? Keep an eye on the EHF website for updates.

Exciting news from the European Headache Congress in Lisbon! 🎉

Congrats to the newly elected European Headache Federation board members:

🇳🇱 Rolf Fronczek
🇹🇷 Esme Ekizoglu
🇷🇸 Igor Petrusic

#EHC2025 #EHF #Neurology

📣 EHC 2025 Closing Ceremony!

We are thrilled to announce that the European Headache Congress (EHC 2026) will be held in the magnificent city of Berlin (9-12 December 2026)

Save the date! We can’t wait to see you there!

#EHC2025 #Lisbon #ClosingCeremony #EHC2026 #Berlin #HeadacheCongress

Day 4: don't miss the session on Headache and Stroke, covering critical topics like Intracranial Hypertension and Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.
#EHC2025 #Headache #Stroke #Neurology

Follow us also on Instagram
www.instagram.com/european_hea...

Day 3 has begun! The EHF School of Advanced Studies (SAS) is now LIVE at the Headache Theatre!
#EHC2025 #SAS #Migraine

Join this afternoon at the European Headache Congress in Lisbon!

4pm in the Plenary Hall the European Headache Federation Award session.

17.15-18.45 the parallel sessions: Assessing outcomes in Headache Care and Basic Science of Headache.

Or browse the ePosters.

headache-congress.org #EHC2025

Starting NOW: Plenary Session 3 at EHC 2025! Focus is on Neurodegeneration in Chronic Migraine and new findings on Neuropeptides in TACs. Essential translational science!

#EHC2025 #TranslationalViews #MigraineResearch

☀️ EHC 2025 Day 2: The Debate Heats Up!

The second day of EHC 2025 is starting strong with a lively debate in the Future Headache Experts (FHE) session! 🔥

#EHC2025 #FHE #FutureHeadacheExperts #Comorbidities

🥂 EHC 2025 Day 1:

Day 1 is officially wrapped, highlighted by our inspiring Opening Ceremony.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Steiner.

We thank all attendees for making today unforgettable. See you tomorrow!

#EHC2025 #OpeningCeremony

Don't miss the Session on Headache Biomarkers at EHC 2025. Key insights on future diagnostics!

#EHC2025