Chronic stress significantly influences the pathogenesis of headache disorders, affecting millions worldwide. This review explores the intricate relationship between stress and headaches, focusing on the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS). Persistent stress could lead to neuroinflammation, increased pain sensitivity, and vascular changes that could contribute to headache development and progression. The bidirectional nature of this relationship creates a vicious cycle, with recurrent headaches becoming a source of additional stress. Dysregulation of the HPA axis and ANS imbalance could amplify susceptibility to headaches, intensifying their frequency and severity. While pharmacological interventions remain common, non-pharmacological approaches targeting stress reduction, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, biofeedback, and relaxation techniques, offer promising avenues for comprehensive headache management. By addressing the underlying stress-related mechanisms, these approaches provide a sustainable strategy to reduce headache frequency and improve patients’ quality of life.

Dang et al. use co-fractionation and immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry to map protein interactions conserved across vertebrate brains. This resource, dubbed VerteBrain, offers insights into brain protein function and new links between proteins and disease, identifying candidate genes and pathways involved in epilepsy, deafness, and developmental disorders.

Researchers studied <i>LRRK2 </i> mutations in Parkinson’s disease. The mutations disrupted dopamine release in vulnerable neurons prior to neuronal loss, identifying potential targets and timing for intervention.