The problem

Timely accurate diagnosis.

The absence of an objective test and access to specialists makes diagnosis challenging. The consequences of misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis are under treatment and incorrect treatments. This translates into complex, costly and lengthy patient journeys.

Headache Sciences Inc.
Hope through discovery

What is a Migraine?

The WHO states that a migraine is a:
  • A primary headache disorder
  • Migraine most often begins at puberty and most affects those aged between 35 and 45 years.
  • It is more common in women, usually by a factor of about 2:1, because of hormonal influences.
  • It is caused by the activation of a mechanism deep in the brain that leads to release of pain-producing inflammatory substances around the nerves and blood vessels of the head.
  • Migraine is recurrent, often lifelong, and characterized by recurring attacks.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs277/en/

Attacks typically include:

A headache of moderate or severe intensity
One-sided
Pulsating in quality
Aggravated by routine physical activity
With duration of hours to 2-3 days
Nausea
Attack frequency ranges between once a year to multiple times a week
In children, attacks tend to be of shorter duration and abdominal symptoms are more prominent

Scope of The Problem

Migraine Statistics

1,000,000,000
37,000,000
523
90
60
50
1-20
2-4
Sufferers Worldwide
Sufferers in the U.S.
Registered headache specialists USA
% and greater misdiagnosed at ER
% misdiagnosed
% seeks medical assistance
+ Years before proper diagnosis and treatment
Hours of formal headache training

Sources: who.int, migraine.com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, migrainetrust.org, americanheadachesociety.org, migraineresearchfoundation.com

The Current Diagnostic Challenges

The search for an EEG test for migraine has been going for 75 years.

Past efforts failed mostly because the signal analysis tools used in the past were primitive by today’s standards.

In recent years there has been an explosion in signal processing capabilities, computation methods, data science and most notably machine learning techniques.

We have succeeded in creating the world's first objective test for migraine with aura on non-pain days through the application of these powerful tools. 

Why Do We Need an Objective Test for Migraines?

The current International Headache Society test is
a questionnaire and therefore it is subjective.

It is susceptible to the following problems:

  • Can be time-consuming for the doctor to do it properly.
  • Language barriers.
  • Children and other patients with communication difficulties may have problems explaining their symptoms.
  • Poor patient recall of details of their symptoms.
  • Falsifiable/test vulnerable to deception.
  • Does not provide physiological information to explain the cause.
  • Does not provide electrical treatment targets.

Our Solution

We have very recently obtained classification rates for migraine using our patent pending algorithm.

Our present classification rate for migraine with aura is 92% and migraine without aura 82%.

These tests were carried out on subjects on non-pain days.

Test Results

0.5
0.066
0.008
92.9
Hours to conduct the entire procedure
Hours of data acquired
Hours of data required for analysis
% confidence level for MwA MET (Multifeature Electrical Test)
Sources: HSI Clinical Results

Competitive Advantage

No known competitor has all of the following critical elements rolled into one product or service. Our migraine test provides all of the following:

  • Non-invasive/safe
  • Affordable
  • Acceptable to doctors and patients (because it is EEG)
  • Accurate (92% for migraine with aura and 82% for migraine without aura in our initial pilot studies)
  • Performed when the patient does not have a headache
  • Objective (not falsifiable)
  • Convenient
  • Very low equipment costs

COMPANY

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Headache Sciences Inc.
Hope through discovery
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