Scents, Chemicals & the Migraine Brain
You are currently watching a preview of this interview. Unlock the full version by upgrading to an Access Pass bundle! Get FREE access to 8 expert interviews from Day 1 and Day 2 when you register today!
Key Questions
- What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and how do they relate to odors and the trigeminal nerve system in people with migraine disease?
- Do VOCs need to have an odor to be a trigger or cause problems for people with migraine disease?
- What steps can be taken to mitigate the high concentration of VOCs and chemical compounds released from new items like furniture or flooring?
- How does osmophobia (smell sensitivity) during an attack differ from an odor acting as a direct migraine trigger?
- What were the unexpected research findings regarding olfactory function in people with migraine disease and osmophobia?
- What strategy is advised to help people with migraine disease avoid losing their ability to smell while still managing potentially triggering odors?
- Do studies show that having migraine with aura affects sensitivity to smells differently than having migraine without aura?
- What types of protections or accommodations could be sought in the workplace for people who are highly sensitive to VOCs and chemical smells?
Interview Notes
- Facebook: Die Deutsche Migräne- und Kopfschmerzgesellschaft e.V
- Instagram: attacke-kopfschmerzen.de
- LinkedIn: Prof. Dr. Gudrun Goßrau
- Study: “Interictal osmophobia is associated with longer migraine disease duration”
- Study: “May headache triggered by odors be regarded as a differentiating factor between migraine and other primary headaches?”
- Article: “Olfactory and trigeminal systems interact in the periphery”
- Study: “Odorant substances that trigger headaches in migraine patients”
- Study: “Olfactory training reduces pain sensitivity in children and adolescents with primary headaches”
- Study: “Olfactory bulb atrophy in migraine patients”
- Study: “Olfactory stimulation inhibits nociceptive signal processing at the input stage of the central trigeminal system”
- Study: “Migraine with aura: Less control over pain and fragrances?”
- Study: “Examination of the sense of smell”
- Study: “Olfactory bulbus volume and olfactory sulcus depth in migraine patients: an MRI evaluation”
- Website: Attack! Together Against Headache and Migraine campaign
Find 300+ treatments in our full Treatment Directory — available with a VIP Access Pass.
For additional links and resources, click here.
Disclaimer: The Migraine World Summit aims to bring you a variety of perspectives and expertise, free from bias or judgment. Alternative theories presented in this video have not been medically reviewed. Views expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of the Migraine World Summit. Please always consult your health care professional and do your own research before making changes to your treatment plan. Captions are auto-generated and may contain errors.
Gudrun Gossrau, MD
Professor of Neurology, Headache and Pain Specialist
Technische Universität Dresden TUD
Gudrun Gossrau, MD, is a professor at the Technische Universität (TU) Dresden and consultant neurologist at its University Hospital, where she directs the Headache Center and serves as vice head of the Interdisciplinary University Pain Center.
She studied medicine at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the University of Ottawa, the University of Western Ontario, and TU Dresden. Since 2014, she has built and led the Headache Center Dresden, establishing it as a leading institution for translational headache research and patient care. Her research focuses on sensory mechanisms in migraine, olfactory influences on pain perception, sex differences in headache disorders, and pediatric headache. For children and adolescents, she founded a pioneering interdisciplinary, multimodal headache therapy program.
Professor Gossrau has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles on headache and pain. She is general secretary of the German Migraine and Headache Society, member of the Annual Program Committee of the German Pain Congress, and serves on the Steering Committee of the German Headache Registry. Her innovative contributions to headache therapy have earned her several distinctions, including the Brand Prize for Innovative Headache Therapy and the MSD Health Award Germany 2024.
Go Beyond the Free Summit Interviews
- Full-length expert interviews beyond the 30-minute edits
- Revisit any 2026 session anytime
- Transcripts and audio downloads included
- Review insights before medical appointments
Related Talks for: Day 7 (2026)
Brain Fog & Dementia: The Science on the Cognitive Impacts of Migraine
Laura (Libby) Sebrow, PhD
Beyond Pills: Your Guide to Drug-Free Neuromodulation for Migraine
Stewart Tepper, MD, FAHS
How Behavioral Therapies Help Prevent & Manage Migraine
Paul R. Martin, PhD
Migraine & Headache Australia is the only organization in Australia that has supported the more than 5 million Australians affected by headache and migraine for 20 years. Migraine & Headache Australia is a division of the Brain Foundation.
Migraine doesn't have to derail your career. Nearly every workplace in the country is impacted by migraine disease through absenteeism and presenteeism. Despite the prevalence of the disease, there is a lack of education and awareness around it. In the workplace, this often leads to unintended stigma and bias against employees living with migraine disease. Visit our website to learn more about programs available for both employees and employers.
If it feels like you’ve tried everything, there may still be options you haven’t explored. The Treatment Directory includes 300+ treatments, therapies, devices, and strategies discussed by MWS experts, updated each year. Available with the VIP Access Pass.
