“This is potentially a very big deal,” I wrote about the study linking seizures and migraine in the brain. To be absolutely clear: this study’s findings could also be nothing at all. In science, a single study doesn’t prove anything other than the topic might be worth further investigation. Whether or not this particular study turns out to be pivotal research remains to be seen.
What I’m excited about is all the different ways scientists are looking at migraine. Important discoveries are announced frequently. Researchers are making connections that further the understanding of what’s happening in the brains of people with migraine, which will ultimately lead to more effective treatment.
I’m excited to see the discoveries as scientists look at migraine in new ways, but migraine research is still woefully underfunded. Part of the reason this research linking seizures and migraine caught my attention is the possibility of migraine being linked to a disease that’s perceived as real and life-changing. Seizure disorders are still stigmatized, but at least people get that they’re a brain disorder. Wouldn’t it be great if more people understood that migraine is, too? Not just for patients facing the stigma in their everyday lives, but the influence it could have on how research funding is allocated.
Migraine knowledge is fuller than it was when I began writing about it almost10 years(!) ago. I’m still hopeful about the future, but we’re taking baby steps when we could be making strides.