The American Migraine Foundation, Takes Visibility of Migraine to New Heights

MOUNT ROYAL, N.J., April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Migraine Foundation's (AMF) Move Against Migraine initiative soars to new heights with a new awareness campaign launching today in New York's Times Square. The new series aims to raise awareness of migraine as the most common neurological disease and one of the leading causes of disability in the world. The campaign will run through June 30.

"Migraine is the most common neurological disease, impacting over 37 million men, women and children in the U.S.," said David Dodick, MD, FAHS, chairman of AMF and professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "The impact of migraine is pervasive and can affect every aspect of a person's life. We are now poised to advance the recognition, understanding, research, and standard of care for all of those whose lives are impacted by this illness."

Through bold imagery and personal stories, the Times Square advertisements depict migraine from the patient perspective. The goal of the campaign is to inspire hope and empower those living with migraine to seek the help and treatment they deserve.

"Recent advances in migraine treatment have propelled this disease into the spotlight, but research has historically lagged behind other disease areas," says Dodick. "The American Migraine Foundation aims to change that by building the most robust sources of research data in the world: the American and International Registries for Migraine Research."

AMF has a rich heritage of thought leadership in the field of headache medicine, with the world's leading experts at the helm. The advertisements kick off a new wave of advocacy for migraine and other headache disorders while elevating migraine visibility on an international scale. June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, and this year's World Brain Day, held annually on July 22, is dedicated to migraine.

"Migraine is the third most common disease in the world, affecting 1 out of every 7 people globally," said Nim Lalvani, MPH, director of AMF. "Of the nearly 380,000 pedestrians who enter Times Square daily¹, approximately 54,285 of those people experience migraine. The Times Square ads speak directly to the patients who are suffering in silence in order to help the public understand the impact of migraine."

The Move Against Migraine campaign builds on a decade-long commitment to improving the lives of those living with migraine through resources, education, and community. Other campaign initiatives include advocacy tools, an online support community group, a mechanism of find specialists in their region, and the dissemination of educational material for patients and healthcare providers alike.

"Migraine does not discriminate," says Lawrence Newman, MD, FAHS, vice chair of AMF and professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health. "It transcends geography and nationality. What better location to highlight this disease than in Times Square—the world's most international location."

About the American Migraine Foundation

The American Migraine Foundation provides education, support and resources for the millions of men, women and children living with migraine. Our mission is to advance migraine research, promote patient advocacy and expand access to care for patients worldwide. Migraine and other disabling diseases that cause severe head pain impact more than 37 million people in the United States alone. By educating caregivers and giving patients the tools to advocate for themselves, we have cultivated a movement that gives a collective voice to the migraine community. For more information, please visit www.americanmigrainefoundation.org.

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¹Pedestrian Counts (2017). Times Square: The official website. Retrieved March 28, 2019, from https://www.timessquarenyc.org/do-business/market-research-data/pedestrian-counts

SOURCE American Migraine Foundation

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http://www.americanmigrainefoundation.org