Researchers from the Montefiore Headache Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University will present new research at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS) being held June 26 – June 29 in Los Angeles. As leaders in the field, Montefiore and Einstein researchers will present 11 abstracts on migraine prevalence, variation and treatment. Migraine ranks in the top 20 of the world's most disabling medical illnesses, yet is underreported and can be poorly managed.

"Our research emphasizes the magnitude of migraine disability on everyday life and barriers that exist to attaining the appropriate treatment for this neurological disorder," said Richard B. Lipton, M.D., director, Montefiore Headache Center and professor and vice chair of neurology and the Edwin S. Lowe Chair in Neurology, Einstein. "We also will discuss the burden of migraine on the family, impact of hormones on migraine, diagnostic tools and therapies for headache. Our hope is these data will open the door for national dialogue about the substantial burden of migraine and importance of improving how we diagnose, care for and treat headache and facial pain syndromes."

This year's meeting will feature lectures, oral abstracts and scientific poster presentations made by nationally and internationally renowned neurological experts. Findings from the Montefiore Headache Center investigators will cover topics ranging from the perceived extent of chronic migraine on relationships and activities to advances in headache screening and treatment protocols. Dr. Lipton will be honored with the Seymour Solomon Award for his leadership in the field of headache medicine.

Following is a sample of studies to be presented at the meeting. Investigators are available for interviews specific to the data or to comment on topics of interest coming out of AHS 2014.

1. Family Burden of Chronic Migraine to the Migraineur: Results of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology & Outcomes (CaMEO) Study – Feelings of guilt and annoyance with partners and children, and avoidance of sexual intimacy with partners due to headache was reported by the majority of 812 women and 182 men who suffer from chronic migraine and participated in the study. Cancelled vacation plans and reduced quality time with partners and children was reported when migraine sufferers were asked about the impact of the disorder on their lives. In addition, the majority of respondents stated that they felt they would be better spouses and parents if they did not have chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is generally defined as migraine with headache occurring 15 or more days per month. Presented by Dawn C. Buse, Ph.D., director, Behavioral Medicine, Montefiore Headache Center, associate professor, Clinical Neurology, Einstein. Friday, June 27 at 1:00 PM.

2. The Menopausal Transition is Associated with Higher Headache Frequencies in Women with Migraine: Results of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study – The study of 3,603 women with migraine is the first to demonstrate that frequency of migraine attacks increases during the menopausal transition. Risk of high frequency migraine increased by up to 60 percent in peri-menopausal and postmenopausal women. Dr. Richard Lipton is principal investigator and Dr. Dawn Buse is a co-author. Friday, June 27 at 1:00 PM.

3. Effects of Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics on Barriers to Chronic Migraine Consultation, Diagnosis, and Treatment: Results of the Chronic Migraine Epidemiology & Outcomes (CaMEO) Study –When evaluating patterns on who consults a healthcare professional for headache, odds were most promising for women, particularly as they age, if they are insured and if they are experiencing greater migraine disability, according to analysis from the CaMEO study. Despite these findings, less than five percent of 1,265 respondents received minimally appropriate treatment. Presented by Dr. Richard Lipton. Friday, June 27 at 1:00PM.

4. Migraine Aura in Pregnancy: a Cross-Sectional Registry Study – Aura, a temporary visual, sensory, language or motor disturbance, is most likely to develop during the third trimester, according to a study of 121 pregnant women with acute primary headache, who never experienced aura before. Visual aura was the most common form of aura experienced. Migraine with aura was previously reported to occur for the first time in women who were pregnant; however, characteristics were not well-described. Presented by Matthew S. Robbins, M.D., FAHS, director, Inpatient Services, Montefiore Headache Center, chief, Neurology, Einstein Division, Montefiore and assistant professor, Neurology, Einstein, and Dr. Richard Lipton. Saturday, June 28 at 12:30PM.

5. Developing and Validating the ID-Chronic Migraine (ID-CM) Screening Tool – Researchers share results from the development and validation of a self-administered tool that used migraine symptoms, headache-related disability and disruption of daily activities to help screen 1,562 people for migraine and other severe headache. The tool is undergoing additional substantiation research. If validated, the screener has the potential to improve identification of chronic migraine, an under-recognized, under-treated neurological disorder. Presented by Dr. Richard Lipton and Dr. Dawn Buse. Friday, June 27 at 1:00 PM.

6. Multifocal Multiform Nummular Headache: A Case Report – The first case of a patient with multifocal nummular headache with varied shape and sizes. The case contradicts nummular headache's distinguishing feature of being fixed in share or size. Presented by Brian M. Grosberg, M.D., director, Montefiore Headache Center and associate professor, Clinical Neurology, Einstein. Saturday, June 28 at 12:30PM.

7. Two Cases of Conversion to Chronic Migraine and Remission to Episodic Migraine in Temporal Relation to Warfarin Therapy –Two cases reports suggest warfarin may induce chronic migraine in patients with episodic migraine, when used as a prophylactic agent. The findings contradict a previous study that reported benefits for using warfarin as a migraine treatment. Presented by Dr. Brian Grosberg and Dr. Dawn Buse. Friday, June 27 at 1:00PM.

8. Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Headache in Clinical Practice: A Multicenter, Prospective Registry Study – Multicenter prospective study that evaluated 164 patients who received peripheral nerve blockade (PNB), found PNB can be an effective and well-tolerated therapy that yields prolonged headache improvement and high satisfaction rates. Dr. Matthew Robbins is co-author for the study. Saturday, June 28 at 2:16PM.