Headache disorders, especially migraine, constitute a major neurological health challenge and are increasingly recognized as leading contributors to disability worldwide. Their impact extends beyond episodic pain, influencing cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life. India carries a substantial share of the global migraine burden, yet remains affected by significant gaps in awareness, diagnosis, access to specialist care, and research output. Although global research has clarified many aspects of headache pathophysiology, the expression of these disorders varies across populations due to genetic, environmental, cultural, and healthcare access factors in the Indian context.

Migraine, in particular, demonstrates substantial heterogeneity in symptom patterns, triggers, and response to therapy, underscoring the need for population specific data. India’s vast and heterogeneous population offers a unique opportunity to generate locally relevant epidemiological, clinical, and translational insights. In many regions, underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment remain persistent problems, often compounded by stigma and limited awareness. Understanding the burden of headache disorders within specific communities in India is essential for designing effective public health strategies, improving diagnostic pathways, and tailoring management approaches. Moreover, the chronic nature of recurrent headaches places a significant economic burden on individuals and healthcare systems through lost productivity and frequent medical consultations. Through this Collection, we aim to stimulate nationally driven research, foster collaboration across institutions and care settings, and strengthen India’s contribution to global headache and brain health science.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Epidemiology of migraine in India
• Management strategies of migraine in Indian patients
• Cultural perceptions of tension-type headache
• Treatment approaches for cluster headaches
• Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias in diverse populations
• Chronic daily headache management strategies
• Impact of lifestyle factors on headache prevalence
• Public health initiatives for headache awareness
• Innovations in headache research methodologies

We welcome submissions from author groups with their main affiliated institution in India. Cross-international authorship groups are welcome to submit their work to The Journal of Headache and Pain outside of this Collection.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is one of the most prevalent neurological conditions worldwide, affecting individuals across all age groups and settings—from sports and military environments to everyday life. Despite being categorized as “mild,” concussion can lead to significant and sometimes prolonged symptoms involving cognition, mood, balance, sleep, and autonomic regulation. These outcomes reflect the complex and multifactorial nature of concussion, which encompasses biomechanical, metabolic, neurophysiological, and psychosocial dimensions.

In recent years, growing attention has been directed toward understanding the mechanisms that underlie both the acute injury and its potential long-term consequences. Evidence suggests that concussion initiates transient but widespread alterations in neuronal connectivity, energy metabolism, neuroinflammatory pathways, and vascular regulation. In some individuals, these changes may persist, contributing to post-concussion syndrome (PCS) or, following repeated injuries, to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Identifying who is at risk, and why recovery trajectories vary so widely, remains a key research challenge.

Equally important are advances in diagnosis, monitoring, and management. Emerging neuroimaging techniques, digital biomarkers, eye-tracking systems, and neurocognitive assessments are reshaping the diagnostic landscape, while multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategies are improving patient outcomes. At the same time, the growing recognition of concussion in children, athletes, and workers underscores the urgent need for preventive measures and public awareness.

The current Thematic Series “Concussion: From Mechanisms to Management” invites original research articles and reviews spanning all aspects of concussion science and clinical care. Topics of interest include biomechanics and injury mechanisms, pathophysiology, biomarkers, neuroimaging, acute and chronic symptomatology, neurorehabilitation, prevention, and policy. This collection aims to integrate perspectives from basic neuroscience, clinical practice, and public health to advance understanding, guide evidence-based management, and inspire innovative approaches to improving patient and societal outcomes.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.