Plain-English translation of NCT03231241 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Researchers at Stanford are trying to understand why some people's occasional headaches turn into chronic daily headaches, while others never develop them. This study collects blood samples, brain imaging scans, and sometimes spinal fluid from people with different headache patterns—from those with no headaches to those with chronic migraines—to look for warning signs and differences in brain activity and blood chemistry that might predict who is at risk.
Today, doctors don't have good ways to predict which patients will develop chronic headaches or how to prevent them. By studying brain imaging, blood proteins, and patient characteristics across different groups, this research hopes to identify early warning signs and develop better prevention and treatment strategies.
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You'll be placed into one of three groups based on your headache history: no headaches, occasional headaches, or chronic daily headaches. All participants complete online questionnaires about their symptoms and health background. You'll also need to participate in at least 3 of these procedures: a blood draw, a brain MRI scan (without contrast dye), and/or a lumbar puncture (spinal tap to collect fluid). There is no medication or active treatment involved—the study is purely observational to understand what happens in the brains and blood of people with different headache patterns.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 7, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Stanford University
Enrollment target
~700 participants
Started
December 2014
Primary completion
August 2026
Age range
18 Years and older
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in July 2025.
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Central contact
Bharati Sanjanwala, M.Sc.
Stanford University
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.