Migraine research suffers from lack of funding
By Linda Shrieves, Orlando Sentinel
Migraines affect more Americans than diabetes and asthma combined, but funding for migraine research is low. Without an infusion of research dollars, researchers say, it will be hard to conquer migraines.
Migraine specialists attending the American Headache Society meeting in Washington last weekend said they believe more government money for migraine research holds the most promise for winning the battle against the disease.
When asked to rank four areas of research need, 40 percent of those attending the conference said increased public funding is more important than understanding basic aspects of the disease. And public research dollars also were considered more important than early intervention in a migraine attack, migraine genetics or the role of the thalamus.
“The infusion of public money in migraine research is central to the conquest of this disease,” said Dr. David W. Dodick, president of the American Headache Society. “Even researchers funded by private grants from academia or industry are calling for increases in allocations in federal spending for this disease.”
NIH allocates less than $13 million a year to migraine reasearch. “Given the burden this disease carries and the great number of people who suffer with it, it should be more like $260 million,” Dodick said.
As painful and debillitating as they are, migraines are not life threatening. There’s only so much government research money out there.
Yeah god forbid we make anyone’s life better with public money. We should subsidize pharmaceutical companies more by letting them regulate themselves. They sure make the best boner pills.
Facts are what they are, Bongo.
Don’t you have anything better to do with your life than STALK ME?
Woah there ego.
You don’t think these extremely talented and hard working researches deserve any funding to use their gifts to give back to society.
But I bet the day you get migraines you will gladly benefit from their contribution.
Migraines are debilitating and cost employees and business in lost productivity. While it is not life threatening, it does substantially decrease the quality of life. I know some people who can not work because they get them so many times in a week and have to leave work, go to a dark quiet place to recuperate. We pay for research for all kinds of illnesses and diseases that are not life threatening. If you get bad migraines you can not watch your children, you can not work, you can not drive, you can not live a normal productive life. I would say that it is worth research funds. Ask anyone who gets them frequently.
I have a headache.
I am one of those who are sufering from t=migrane since childhood and paid alot health wise and career and even my family suferd . I beleive it is time for all humanity todo something to stop such severe pain
Dogwoman, research before you post – migraines CAN be life threatening – for one, they can cause deadly strokes. Also, suicide rates for people with chronic migraines are high. You must not suffer from migraines or you would feel differently.