Todd J. Schwedt, MD, Wins the American Headache Society’s Coveted Wolff Award for Seminal Work in Migraine Classification

TODD J. SCHWEDT, MD, WINS THE AMERICAN HEADACHE SOCIETY’S COVETED WOLFF
AWARD FOR SEMINAL WORK IN MIGRAINE CLASSIFICATION
 

WASHINGTON, DC, JUNE 19, 2015 __ Todd J. Schwedt, MD, FAHS, Associate Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, has won the American Headache Society’s Harold G. Wolff Lecture Award for his research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of brain structure for constructing classifiers that accurately identify individuals as having chronic or episodic migraine vs. being a healthy control; and that test the currently used threshold of 15 headache days/month for differentiating chronic migraine from episodic migraine.

In his study, 66 migraine sufferers and 54 healthy controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging of regional cortical thickness, cortical surface area, and volume were highly accurate for determining if individuals have chronic migraine. Results also provide objective support for the current use of 15 headache days/month as a threshold for dividing migraineurs into lower frequency (i.e. episodic migraine) and higher frequency (i.e. chronic migraine) subgroups.

“Since there is no objective gold standard by which to test these diagnostic criteria, the criteria are based on the consensus opinion of content experts,” noted Lawrence C. Newman, MD, president of the American Headache Society. “Dr. Schwedt’s work creates accurate migraine classifiers that could serve as an objective gold standard by which to
test and revise diagnostic criteria. This is a major step forward in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine.”

Dr. Newman is director of The Headache Institute and an attending neurologist at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Roosevelt, Mount Sinai Beth Israel.

Dr. Schwedt is the 55th winner of the Wolff Lecture Award since it was established by AHS in 2000. It was presented this week at the American Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting which draws about 1,000 headache and migraine researchers and treatment specialists from around the world to hear the latest scientific and clinical information on headache and migraine. This year’s program, “Drawing upon Headache Research,” is four days of teaching and scientific presentations.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN HEADACHE SOCIETY
The American Headache Society (AHS) is a professional society of health care providers dedicated to the study and treatment of headache and face pain. The Society’s objectives are to promote the exchange of information and ideas concerning the causes and treatments of headache and related painful disorders. Educating physicians, health
professionals and the public and encouraging scientific research are the primary functionsof this organization. AHS activities include an annual scientific meeting, a comprehensive headache symposium, regional symposia for neurologists and family practice physicians, and publication of the journal Headache. (www.americanheadachesociety.org)
 

ABOUT TODD J. SCHWEDT, MD, FAHS
Todd J. Schwedt, M.D., is Associate Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. His research utilizes advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to study migraine and concussion. This includes structural measures, such as diffusion tensor imaging and cortical thickness, as well as functional measures, including event_related functional magnetic resonance imaging and resting state functional connectivity.

The goal of Dr. Schwedt’s research is to identify imaging biomarkers that will assist in diagnosing, treating and prognosticating outcomes for patients with migraine and concussion.

He received his M.D. at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is Vice chairman, Headache and Facial Pain Section, American Academy of Neurology; a member of the Boards of Directors of the American Migraine Foundation and American Headache Society; serves as Associate Editor, Headache, Cephalalgia and Pain Medicine journals; and is chairman of the Post_Traumatic Headache Working Group of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

ABOUT THE HAROLD G. WOLFF LECTURE AWARD
The Harold G. Wolff Lecture Award is granted annually by the American Headache Society for the best paper on headache, head or face pain and the nature of pain itself. The recipient is invited to present the paper at the Society’s annual meeting, which is then subsequently published in Headache.

It is made in tribute to Dr. Harold G. Wolff (1898_1962), was an American doctor, neurologist, scientist and a pioneer in the study of psychosomatic who has been called the father of modern headache research. An MD trained in psychiatry, Wolff built a hypothesis of stress and disease in migraine, focusing on the personality features and reactions of persons with migraine.

Since 2000, the American Headache Society has bestowed the Wolff Award on 54 outstanding researchers in migraine.