Migraine is not just a headache. The throbbing head pain often strikes with nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light or sound. Recurrent attacks can last from a few hours to several days. Migraine is very common, affecting an estimated 32 million people in the EU alone. Three times as many women get migraines as men, possibly related to hormonal changes.

The exact cause of migraine is unknown, but it is believed to be a neurovascular disorder with disease mechanisms within the brain and the blood vessels of the head. Medicines can prevent attacks or alleviate symptoms, but experts say better prevention and treatment options are needed.

The EU supports the development of advanced-therapy medicines, based on genes or cells that offer new opportunities for treating diseases including potential anti-migraine treatments. In recent years, the European Commission has granted marketing authorisations for new medicines that widen the therapeutic options for this disease.

The EU's health programme, 'EU4Health', prioritises neurological disorders, including migraine. The 'Healthier Together' initiative, which more generally supports better data, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and patients' quality of life, includes action in all EU countries specifically focused on neurological disorders including migraine.

The EU also funds research to better understand brain function and further develop diagnosis, prevention, treatment and care. Researchers working on the TARA project are trying to find a more effective non-surgical solution than implants for treating chronic migraine.