Vanessa Cooper: The Science of Headaches

Howie and Harlan are joined by Vanessa Cooper, a Yale School of Medicine neurologist, to discuss the causes of migraines and promising new treatments for the disorder. Harlan discusses his approach as a journal editor to the use of AI in academic writing; Howie reports on the premium tax credits for insurance purchased through Affordable Care Act exchanges that are at stake in the government shutdown.  Links: The Government Shutdown "Government Shutdown Live Updates" "The US government has shut down. Here's what to know"  "Watch: Hegseth rails against 'beardos' and 'woke' at gathering of US generals"  Harlan Krumholz: "Tools, Not Ghosts: Artificial Intelligence, Writing, and Responsibility" Headaches "The global prevalence of headache: an update, with analysis of the influences of methodological factors on prevalence estimates"  "Migraine with aura"  "General neurology: Current challenges and future implications" "Eleven Reasons People Decide to Choose Headache Medicine: There May Be a Headache Medicine Provider Shortage but there are Ways to Foster Interest" "How to Find the Right Doctor for Proper Migraine Management" Cleveland Clinic: Chronic Migraine Mayo Clinic: Cluster headache Mayo Clinic: Trigeminal neuralgia" "Migraine With Aura" American Headache Society: Types of Aura "Rethinking migraine with aura: Why cortical spreading depolarization (depression), not aura, causes headaches" "Effects of anti-epileptic drugs on spreading depolarization-induced epileptiform activity in mouse hippocampal slices" "CGRP Inhibitors" "Top migraine medication effective for preventing migraines, treating drug-induced headaches is hard to access"  "Review: An Update on CGRP Monoclonal Antibodies for the Preventive Treatment of Episodic Migraine"  International Neuromodulation Society: About Neuromodulation American Association of Neurological Surgeons: Vagus Nerve Stimulation Cefaly Gammacore American Headache Society: First Contact: Headache in Primary Care ACA Tax Credits and the Government Shutdown "Why ACA tax credits for 22 million Americans are at the center of the government shutdown drama" "Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance 101" Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare Monthly Enrollment Medicaid.gov: June 2025 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights "ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire" "The Estimated Effects of Enacting Selected Health Coverage Policies on the Federal Budget and on the Number of People With Health Insurance" "How an ACA Premium Spike Will Affect Family Budgets, and Voters" Learn more about the MBA for Executives program at Yale SOM. Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.