SAN DIEGO — Migraine is the third most common neurological disorder worldwide, and yet reliable treatments remain elusive. Research hinting at new avenues for treatments will be presented at Neuroscience 2025, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world’s largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
Migraines can lead to severe symptoms like head pain, sensitivity to light, nausea, and dizziness. Between 12% and 15% of the U.S. population suffers from the condition, with women disproportionately affected. It is a complex condition, and the exact cause isn't fully understood; current treatments don't provide adequate relief for many patients. Scientists are unpacking the neurological mechanisms of this disorder and spotlighting potential new methods for treatment.
Today’s new findings show that:
“Migraine headache is a debilitating condition impacting millions of people worldwide that imposes an enormous personal, social, and economic burden,” said Ian Meng, PhD , professor of biomedical sciences, director of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences (CEN) at the University of New England, and moderator of the press conference. “This research provides new insights into the potential causes of migraine and lays the groundwork for translating these findings into effective clinical treatments.”
For complete access to Neuroscience 2025 in-person and online, request media credentials . This research was supported by national funding agencies including the National Institutes of Health and private funding organizations.
Sunday, November 16, 2025
12:15–1:15 p.m. PST
San Diego Convention Center, Room 15A, and online for registered media
Migraine Press Conference Summary
Selective vulnerability of GABAergic neurons in chronic migraine
Anju Vasudevan, Anju.Vasudevan@hmri.org , Abstract PSTR219.13
Study of the effects of psilocybin in three rat preclinical models of migraine, insights from the trigeminovascular system
Owein Guillemot-Legris, owein.guillemot-legris@transpharmation.com , Abstract PSTR219.15
Migraine symptoms and visual cortex thickness are significantly reduced following a 1-month low glutamate diet in veterans with Gulf War Illness
Ashley VanMeter, Ashley.VanMeter@georgetown.edu , Abstract PSTR219.25
Characterization of the isosorbide dinitrate model of headache in male and female rats
Mark Urban, mark.urban@psychogenics.com , Abstract PSTR219.10
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The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) is an organization of nearly 30,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and the nervous system.