In the sustainable development goals (SDG) context of seeking universal health coverage, the expanding gap between the supply of specialized and primary providers of headache-related health care on the one hand and the care needs of the very large number of people affected by headache on the other is a formidable but not insoluble public-health challenge. Structured headache services provide a cost-effective framework for provision of care but may still be overwhelmed by demand. Community pharmacists are an underutilized resource, potentially well able to provide the solution. This collection aligns with UN SDG-3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages), and more specifically with SDG-3.8 (Achieve universal health coverage ..., access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines ... for all). The collection may include reports (especially comparative studies) on current pharmacy practice (scope, responsibilities and regulatory and other restrictions) relevant to headache care in countries worldwide — especially, but not restricted to, low and lower-middle-income countries; studies of pharmacists' knowledge and understanding of headache disorders and their management, theoretically argued proposals for change that, through educational initiatives, expansion of community pharmacists' scope of practice or by other means, might relieve strained headache-care systems; and studies of workload-shifting in headache care from medical to community pharmacy services (economic evaluations, theoretical or empirical assessments of benefits versus harms, and reports of pilot implementations either in headache care or in other therapeutic areas that might be pathfinders for headache care).

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, Good Health & 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.