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A diabetes treatment that lowers mind fluid stress has minimize month-to-month migraine days by greater than half, in accordance with a brand new research offered at this time on the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025.
Researchers on the Headache Heart of the College of Naples “Federico II” gave the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist liraglutide to 26 adults with weight problems and continual migraine (outlined as ≥15 headache days per thirty days).
Sufferers reported a median of 11 fewer headache days per thirty days, whereas incapacity scores on the Migraine Incapacity Evaluation Take a look at dropped by 35 factors, indicating a clinically significant enchancment in work, research, and social functioning.
GLP-1 agonists have gained latest widespread consideration, reshaping therapy approaches for a number of illnesses, together with diabetes and heart problems. Within the therapy of kind 2 diabetes, liraglutide helps decrease blood sugar ranges and cut back physique weight by suppressing urge for food and decreasing vitality consumption.
Importantly, whereas individuals’ body-mass index declined barely (from 34.01 to 33.65), this variation was not statistically important. An evaluation of covariance confirmed that BMI discount had no impact on headache frequency, strengthening the speculation that stress modulation, not weight reduction, drives the profit.
“Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly,” stated lead researcher Dr. Simone Braca. “The benefit lasted for the full three-month observation period, even though weight loss was modest and statistically non-significant.”
Sufferers have been screened to exclude papilledema (optic disk swelling ensuing from elevated intracranial stress) and sixth nerve palsy, ruling out idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) as a confounding issue.
Rising proof intently hyperlinks delicate will increase in intracranial stress to migraine assaults. GLP-1-receptor agonists reminiscent of liraglutide cut back cerebrospinal fluid secretion and have already proved efficient in treating IIH. Subsequently, constructing on these observations, Dr. Braca and colleagues hypothesized that exploiting the identical mechanism of motion may in the end dampen cortical and trigeminal sensitization that underlies migraine.
“We think that, by modulating cerebrospinal fluid pressure and reducing intracranial venous sinuses compression, these drugs produce a decrease in the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a key migraine-promoting peptide,” Dr. Braca defined. “That would pose intracranial pressure control as a brand-new, pharmacologically targetable pathway.”
Gentle gastrointestinal negative effects (primarily nausea and constipation) occurred in 38% of individuals however didn’t result in therapy discontinuation.
“We also want to determine whether other GLP-1 drugs can deliver the same relief, possibly with even fewer gastrointestinal side effects,” Dr. Braca famous.
If confirmed, GLP-1-receptor agonists may provide a brand new therapy choice for the estimated one in seven folks worldwide who dwell with migraine, notably those that don’t reply to present preventives. Given liraglutide’s established use in kind 2 diabetes and weight problems, it could symbolize a promising case of drug repurposing in neurology.
Extra info:
Braca S., Russo C. et al. GLP-1R Agonists for the Therapy of Migraine: A Pilot Potential Observational Research. Summary A-25-13975.
Offered by
European Academy of Neurology
Quotation:
From blood sugar to mind reduction: GLP-1 remedy linked to decrease migraine frequency (2025, June 20)
retrieved 20 June 2025
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