The story behind a simple idea: rethinking headache care as a way to improve population health globally
Published in Sustainability
This is the story behind a recent paper publishes on The Journal of Headache and Pain (Rethinking headache as a global public health case model for reaching the SDG 3 HEALTH by 2030. J Headache Pain. 2023; 24:140), but it is mostly the story of a journey on a mountain. It begun at the end of 2022 and get to its end on October 2023, when the manuscript was finally online.
The paper moves from a simple observation and gets to a simple idea. The observation is the populations’ health is defined by the way in which people experience health conditions that limit their daily lives, and the more a disease is common in the population, the higher the likelihood that it is a main cause of population disability. Headache disorders are common and disabling: so, and here comes the simple idea, if we want to improve populations’ health, we have to improve the health of people who suffer from headache disorders. A simple idea which, however, will have a complex realization: and our paper, rather than practical solutions, presents general guidelines that can be implemented in the future.
Coming back to the story behind this paper…it is not so frequent that a middle-level researcher is given the role and the responsibility to coordinate a group of high-level scientists. Actually, one of the strongest group possible in the field of headache disorders, composed of past, current and future presidents of scientific societies and journal editors. Compared to all of them, I felt like a mouse that had to climb Mount Everest. And by “not so frequent” I mean that it was the first time for me.
When I first was informed about the possibility to work on this manuscript, in which six sub-sections had to be merged in order to give a readable shape to such an enormous amount of content, I was told that I would have to care about one of the sections. It was the end of 2022: I thought it was prestigious, but manageable, and in fact it was. Someone had however to prepare an introductory section: when I received the formal invitation to join this collective effort, I discovered that this task would have been in charge to me. It was February 2023: I still thought it was prestigious, but manageable, and in fact it was. Then, someone had to collate all the material, which means finding and deleting the inevitable text duplication (some of which surely “escaped” my radar), as well as filling the inevitable gaps, fixing the style and setting the references (a task which might possibly drive anyone crazy): still me, still prestigious, manageable, although hard. And finally, someone had to write down a conclusion. “No one knows this manuscript better than me”, I thought: so, I decided to take this responsibility by myself. A that point I get back to the two senior authors that were in charge to handle the manuscript with me: they took some time for a full reading of the whole manuscript and provided some comments. But you cannot submit such a kind of manuscript without a last revision from the co-authors.
So, the mouse started climbing Mount Everest. I have to admit that it never happened to me to get such a large amount of comments: however, the topic is of high-level importance as it provides a unique opportunity, to a group or individual researchers - and not to a scientific society - to set a policy agenda on how should headache care be organized at the global level. Of course, in principle and not in practice: but the principles behind are strong and a point of balance had to be found. I expected that working with such top-level scientists would have been complex. On previous occasions, I saw people having harsh discussions because the comment they made was not retained. Nothing of this kind happened on this occasion: I saw people providing further explanations to what they wrote, explaining the importance (and the reasons behind the importance) of their opinions. I saw people proving me a true global perspective, especially on what is realistic to write down and what is not, even considering that no practical indications would be given. Clearly, difficulties existed: when you have to coordinate the work with top-level people, you have to be flexible, especially on the agenda of revisions and on the timing to publication.
It was indeed a great opportunity to challenge myself and learn the meaning of serving as group leader, and for this I would like to quote piece of Roberto Benigni’s masterpiece “Life is Beautiful”: You are serving, but you are not a servant. Serving as senior author enabled me to learn something: I learnt that there was no mouse, and no Mount Everest to climb. But, more important, that in this journey I was not alone, but in good company of 25 companions, that before being excellent scientists, are all exceptional persons.
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The Journal of Headache and Pain
The Journal of Headache and Pain is a peer-reviewed open access journal specifically dedicated to researchers involved in all aspects of headache and related pain syndromes, including epidemiology, public health, basic science, translational medicine, clinical trials and real-world data.
What are SDG Topics?
An introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Topics and their role in highlighting sustainable development research.
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Focus India
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.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 01, 2026
Focus China
Headache disorders, particularly migraine, represent a significant and growing public health concern with a major impact on disability and quality of life. While research has advanced our global understanding, the specific manifestations, burdens, and management challenges of these conditions within unique populations require dedicated attention. In China, factors such as vast geographical disparities, rapid urbanization, diverse ethnicities, and a unique healthcare system structure present distinctive opportunities and challenges in the recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of headache disorders.
This thematic Collection, “Focus China”, aims to illuminate the landscape of headache medicine in China by exploring epidemiological patterns, clinical characteristics, healthcare access, traditional and integrative medicine approaches, and the socio-economic impact of headache disorders across the country.
We invite submissions of original research, systematic and narrative reviews, editorials, rapid reviews, and commentaries on topics including, but not limited to:
• The epidemiology, burden, and clinical features of migraine and other headache disorders in specific Chinese populations and regions.
• Advanced neuroimaging studies identifying unique endophenotypes, structural and functional brain alterations, and biomarkers of headache disorders in the Chinese cohort.
• Insights into the pathophysiology of headache disorders from a Chinese perspective, including research on epigenetics, neuron-glia interactions, and multi-omics.
• Studies on the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with conventional headache management.
• Unique cultural, environmental, and genetic factors influencing headache disorders in China.
• The development and validation of diagnostic tools for the Chinese population.
This Collection provides a dedicated platform for researchers and clinicians primarily affiliated with Chinese institutions to share their insights and contribute to the global knowledge of headache science while addressing the specific needs of their region. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, “Focus China” aims to drive meaningful advancements in headache research and patient care across China.
Therefore, the Collection welcomes submissions from author groups with their main affiliated institution in China. 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.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Oct 13, 2026
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