A recent study presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025 indicates that liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, may significantly reduce migraine frequency in patients with chronic migraines. Conducted by researchers at the University of Naples "Federico II," the pilot study involved 26 adults with obesity and a history of chronic migraines, defined as experiencing 15 or more headache days per month.
Participants reported an average reduction of 11 headache days per month following treatment with liraglutide over a 12-week period. Additionally, their disability scores, as measured by the Migraine Disability Assessment Test, improved by an average of 35 points, suggesting enhanced quality of life in terms of work, study, and social engagements. Notably, while participants experienced a slight reduction in body mass index (BMI), this change was not statistically significant and did not correlate with the reduction in headache frequency, supporting the hypothesis that changes in cerebrospinal fluid pressure may be the primary mechanism for these benefits.
The study's lead researcher, Dr. Simone Braca, noted that most patients felt improvements within the first two weeks of treatment, and these benefits were sustained throughout the study period. Mild gastrointestinal side effects were reported by 38% of participants, although these did not lead to treatment discontinuation.
Future research is planned, including a randomized, double-blind trial to further explore the efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists in migraine treatment and to evaluate other GLP-1 medications that may produce similar benefits with fewer side effects. If validated, these findings could present a new therapeutic option for the estimated one in seven individuals worldwide affected by migraines, particularly for those unresponsive to current preventive treatments.