A recent study conducted at the University of Naples involved 26 adults with obesity and chronic migraines, who were administered a daily dose of 1.8 mg of liraglutide.

Participants experienced a significant reduction in average headache days from 20 to about 9 per month, reporting an average decrease of 11 headache days per month within just two weeks of treatment.

While some participants lost weight during the study, this modest weight loss was not enough to fully explain the reduction in migraine frequency, indicating that other mechanisms may be at play.

Research suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide could potentially reduce the frequency of migraines by half for sufferers.

Approximately 6 million people in the UK suffer from migraines, which can cause severe pain and debilitating symptoms.

Dr. Simone Braca, the lead researcher, highlighted the potential for repurposing liraglutide, which is already established for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, for migraine treatment.

Dr. Braca hypothesizes that liraglutide lowers brain pressure, which may decrease the likelihood of migraines.

Braca and his team plan to conduct larger trials to further investigate these effects and the underlying mechanisms involved.

The benefits observed in the study were sustained over a three-month observation period, despite the weight loss being statistically non-significant.

Nearly 50% of participants had at least a 50% reduction in headache days, with mild side effects reported by 40%, but no participants discontinued the medication.

The study indicates that GLP-1 drugs may help control intracranial pressure and reduce the release of CGRP, a key molecule associated with migraine attacks.

This study highlights potential new uses for GLP-1 drugs, which are also being researched for conditions like heart disease, addiction, and Alzheimer's.