A small pilot study has revealed that liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist commonly used for diabetes treatment, may significantly reduce migraine frequency by targeting brain pressure mechanisms rather than through weight loss effects.
The 12-week study, published in Headache and presented at the European Academy of Neurology meeting in Finland, tracked 26 adults with obesity who suffered from chronic or frequent migraines. Participants received a daily 1.8 mg dose of liraglutide—the standard amount used for diabetes treatment.
Significant Reduction in Migraine Days
After three months of treatment, participants experienced a dramatic reduction in headache frequency. Their average number of headache days per month dropped from 20 to approximately 9, representing more than a 50% decrease. Nearly half of all patients achieved at least a 50% reduction in headache days.
The study also measured functional improvement using standard headache impact scales. Participants reported substantially less disability from migraines, with scores on the headache impact scale cut by more than half.
Brain Pressure Mechanism Proposed
Dr. Simone Braca, a neurologist at the University of Naples Federico II and lead author of the study, explained that the migraine relief appears unrelated to weight loss. Although some participants lost small amounts of weight, Braca noted these reductions were not meaningful enough to explain the migraine improvements.
"This study is very interesting in that the GLP 1s are hypothesized to lower brain pressure, which can then lower your chance of getting a headache or a migraine," Braca told ABC News.
The researchers propose that cerebrospinal fluid pressure plays a key role in migraine development. This fluid surrounds and cushions the brain and spine, and even slight buildups can press on nearby veins and nerves in the brain.
"An increased pressure of the spinal fluid in the brain may be one of the mechanisms underlying migraine," Braca explained. "And if we target this mechanism, this preliminary evidence suggests that it may be helpful for migraine."
Safety Profile and Side Effects
The treatment demonstrated a favorable safety profile in this small study. About 40% of participants experienced mild side effects, primarily nausea or constipation. Importantly, no patients discontinued the medication due to adverse effects.
Future Research Plans
The promising results have prompted the research team, led by Dr. Roberto De Simone, to plan larger clinical trials. Future studies will directly measure brain pressure and investigate whether other GLP-1 drugs might provide similar migraine relief with potentially fewer side effects.
"There are still a substantial portion of migraine patients that face an unmet need and that live with its burden," Braca said. "New drugs that could target other pathways, I think that could be reassuring to those patients and give them hope."
Expert Commentary
Alexandra Sinclair, chair of the neurology department at the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the study but has previously researched GLP-1 agonists' role in reducing intracranial pressure, called the findings significant.
"It's a hugely interesting and very important study, and it opens all sorts of questions about how the drug works," Sinclair said.
Expanding Therapeutic Applications
This research contributes to growing evidence that GLP-1 drugs may have therapeutic benefits extending far beyond their established uses in diabetes and weight management. Researchers are currently investigating these medications for various conditions, including cardiovascular disease prevention, addiction treatment, and Alzheimer's disease.
