Programme Day 2

Migraine is a primary headache disorder, in most cases episodic, with symptoms that differ from person to person and from attack to attack. It can lead to significant disability and high personal, family, occupational, societal, and economic burden. Today, 41 million people in Europe live with migraine. As the leading cause of disability among young women, it is about three times more common in women than men. Manifestations differ between men and women and are influenced by sex-specific factors. The disease is most troublesome during people’s most productive years (late teens to 50s) and costs the European economies as much as € 50 billion a year. The indirect costs associated with reduced productivity represent a substantial proportion of the migraine costs. Despite its widespread and debilitating nature, migraine is still misunderstood, ignored, and stigmatised. Many governments, seeking to constrain health care costs, do not acknowledge the substantial burden of migraine on society. During the Brain Innovation Days, Migraine & Women in Society will highlight the impact of migraine on women within society. The speakers will explore current research related to women’s migraine and will look at how current challenges can be adopted into broader public health strategies. This session is designed as a panel discussion with experts and policymakers.