Study of Headache Progression Using Brain Imaging, Patient Traits, and Blood and Spinal Fluid Analysis

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying why some people with episodic headaches develop chronic daily or near daily headaches. The study aims to understand differences in brain anatomy and function, cerebrospinal fluid and blood components, genetics, and patient characteristics that may explain this change. This research hopes to improve understanding of chronic migraines and daily headaches to help develop better treatments and prevention methods. Participants may take part in online questionnaires, blood sampling, lumbar puncture spinal tap, and MRI brain scans without contrast. Participants can choose to have the MRI or lumbar puncture but must complete at least three of the procedures including the blood draw and questionnaires. The study includes three groups those with episodic headaches, chronic headaches, and people with few or no headaches. During the study, participants provide survey answers, biological samples, and imaging data to help researchers analyze brain and bodily differences linked to headache patterns. The main outcome is to predict headache chronification over five years. The study welcomes healthy volunteers aged 18 and older and does not provide any treatment or intervention. Participants will be monitored through their involvement in questionnaires and procedures over the study period ending in 2026.

Analysis of Headache Chronification With Imaging, Deep Phenotyping, and Proteomics