A population-based study of nearly 60,000 adults with active migraine in the US found that 31.7% experienced migraine-related stigma often or very often. This stigma was associated with increased disability, greater interictal burden, and reduced quality of life. The study used a novel 12-item questionnaire, the Migraine-Related Stigma (MiRS), to assess stigma, which was divided into two factors: Secondary Gain (feeling others view migraine as a way to gain something) and Minimizing Burden (feeling others downplay the disease's impact). Participants were categorized into five groups based on their experience of stigma. The risk of increased disability was significantly higher in groups experiencing stigma compared to those who never experienced it, with the highest risk in those experiencing both types of stigma. Similarly, increased interictal burden and reduced quality of life were associated with higher levels of stigma. The study found that individuals with more frequent migraine days were more likely to experience stigma, and that stigma was linked to worse outcomes regardless of headache frequency. The findings highlight the significant impact of migraine-related stigma on disability, burden, and quality of life, and suggest that addressing stigma could improve outcomes for people with migraine. The study also notes that stigma may be more prevalent in certain populations and that further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking stigma to health outcomes. The study was funded by Eli Lilly & Company and included disclosures of financial interests from various pharmaceutical companies.A population-based study of nearly 60,000 adults with active migraine in the US found that 31.7% experienced migraine-related stigma often or very often. This stigma was associated with increased disability, greater interictal burden, and reduced quality of life. The study used a novel 12-item questionnaire, the Migraine-Related Stigma (MiRS), to assess stigma, which was divided into two factors: Secondary Gain (feeling others view migraine as a way to gain something) and Minimizing Burden (feeling others downplay the disease's impact). Participants were categorized into five groups based on their experience of stigma. The risk of increased disability was significantly higher in groups experiencing stigma compared to those who never experienced it, with the highest risk in those experiencing both types of stigma. Similarly, increased interictal burden and reduced quality of life were associated with higher levels of stigma. The study found that individuals with more frequent migraine days were more likely to experience stigma, and that stigma was linked to worse outcomes regardless of headache frequency. The findings highlight the significant impact of migraine-related stigma on disability, burden, and quality of life, and suggest that addressing stigma could improve outcomes for people with migraine. The study also notes that stigma may be more prevalent in certain populations and that further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking stigma to health outcomes. The study was funded by Eli Lilly & Company and included disclosures of financial interests from various pharmaceutical companies.