A new study suggests that medications typically prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity may also offer major relief to people living with chronic migraines, even without notable weight loss.
The study, presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025, found that the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide could help significantly reduce monthly migraine days in patients who also have obesity.
Researchers enrolled 26 adults with obesity and frequent migraines for a 12-week follow-up study. Participants received a daily 1.8 mg dose of liraglutide, a typical dosage for diabetes management. The results showed that the average number of monthly migraine days dropped from 20 to 9. Nearly half the participants experienced a 50% or greater reduction in migraine days.
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In addition to fewer migraine days, participants also saw a significant drop in their Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) scores by 32 points, indicating improved daily functioning and quality of life.
Lead author Dr Simone Braca said that the team believed that liraglutide’s ability to lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure may be the key to reducing migraines. “Even small buildups in CSF pressure can press on brain veins and nerves, contributing to migraine onset,” said Dr Braca. “Targeting this pressure may offer a new path for treatment.”
Experts unaffiliated with the study called the results “exciting” and “potentially life-changing”, while also urging caution due to the study’s small size and the need for larger, randomised trials.
“If confirmed, GLP-1 receptor agonists may represent a new class of migraine prevention drugs,” Braca said. His team plans to follow up with a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial to validate the findings and test other GLP-1 medications.
