News!

From September 5 to 8, our research team attended the MTIS conference (Migraine Trust International Symposium) at the Hilton London Metropole in the United Kingdom. This is one of the largest international conferences in the field of migraine research, offering a valuable opportunity to share our knowledge and insights with fellow researchers and healthcare professionals.
Britt van der Arend delivered a presentation on perimenstrual migraine—migraine attacks occurring around menstruation. Her talk covered various treatment options and emphasized the importance of further research into hormonal treatments. The ongoing research within the WHAT! Study was a key focus, and we are excited to work towards completing it in the coming year.

The Leiden Headache Group organized a successful Migraine Patient Day, welcoming 300 people with Migraine logo pastries. Prof. Dr. G. Terwindt opened the day, followed by plenary sessions on various topics including the role of headache nurses, genetic research in migraine, and new treatment options. Participants could choose from interactive sessions on topics such as hormones and migraine triggers, and were given tours of the research laboratory and an EEG demonstration. The day concluded with a reception where scientific posters were presented and Headache Network provided information. Thanks to sponsors Abbvie, Lundbeck, Pfizer, and Teva, as well as all participants and their families. A report of the day will soon be available on https://hoofdpijnonderzoek.nl/en/. Also, listen to the Headache Podcast for more information (“Hoofdpijnpodcast” in Dutch, available on Spotify)! The next episode, scheduled for early April, will cover this patient day!

New publication! Our WHAT! study is moving forward with the publication of the background and protocol of the WHAT! Trial. You can find the entire article here. Women who suffer from migraines are more likely to experience migraines during their periods or other hormonal changes. The lack of understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanism causes a lack of hormonal treatment for migraine in women. Our hypothesis is that continuous daily use of a birth control pill could be an effective and well-tolerated preventive treatment for menstrual migraine.💊 We are still looking for new participants! If you are interested or know someone who might be, you can go to our application form (Dutch language is required)

On Jan. 29, 2024, Voices for Women Foundation held a webinar on headaches in girls and women: “could it be migraine”? The webinar was a great success and very informative. During this webinar, the Voices for Women Foundation talked with columnist and expert by experience Roos Schlikker and medical specialist Gisela Terwindt about headaches in girls and women. The WHAT! study was also discussed, as well as practical tips and advice for girls and women with migraine. You can listen back to the webinar at: https://voicesforwomen.nl/webinars/.

1 in 3 women will experience a migraine attack at some point in their life. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Where does that difference come from? Physician-researcher Britt van der Arend and neurologist Gisela Terwindt explain it in an interview with Quest magazine. Read the article here (in Dutch).

Anti-CGRP medications seem to work just as well in women with menstrual migraine as in women with migraine that is not menstrual related. This research suggests that the use of anti-CGRP (receptor) antibodies may lead to a reduction in the number of migraine days throughout all days of the menstrual cycle. The finding also supports the preventive use of these antibodies in women with menstrual migraines. The entire article can be read here.