A Breakthrough from BAU to Eliminate Migraine Pain

Developed for migraine pain, recognized as the third most common disease in the world, the Vagustim device collects physiological data from the body and offers a personalized treatment method. The Vagustim project, which received 400,000 TL in support in Türkiye's largest entrepreneurship competition, will be used in the treatment of migraine attacks.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), migraine, which affects 1 in every 7 people, is the third most common disease in the world. Aiming to prevent migraine attacks caused by intense stress, the Vagustim device won a 400,000 TL award at İTÜ Çekirdek Big Bang, one of Türkiye's most prestigious competitions. Supported by BAUTTO, the project was developed by Assist. Prof. Dr. Ali Veysel Özden of the Bahçeşehir University (BAU) Institute of Health Sciences and Ali Can Erk, a graduate of BAU Mechatronics and MBA programs. In the long term, the device may also offer a solution not only for migraine but for other stress-related conditions such as sleep disorders and gastrointestinal problems.

AI-SUPPORTED

Vagustim, a medical device used in migraine treatment, electrically stimulates the vagus nerve in the ear and is controlled by a mobile application via Bluetooth. With the help of an accompanying smart wristband, the mobile application collects a range of physiological data from the body and combines it with user data to offer a personalized treatment protocol. This is enabled by an artificial intelligence algorithm running in the background.

70 PERCENT OF MIGRAINE PAIN IS STRESS-RELATED

Stating that the aim of Vagustim is to prevent migraine attacks caused by intense stress, Ali Can Erk said: "According to the American Migraine Foundation, approximately 70 percent of migraine attacks are stress-related. This is because stress factors increase sympathetic nervous system activity and disrupt the balance of the autonomic nervous system. The aim of Vagustim is to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve to increase parasympathetic activity, thereby eliminating autonomic nervous system dysfunction and preventing the related migraine."

GOOD NEWS FOR MILLIONS OF MIGRAINE PATIENTS

Stating that they will move to mass production once the certification process is completed, Dr. Ali Veysel Özden said: "One of the biggest problems of our time is stress, because stress leads to many disorders, including migraine, intestinal and stomach problems, and sleep disorders. Drug treatment of these conditions is symptomatic and may not eliminate the underlying problem. Our aim with Vagustim is to eliminate the effect that stress factors create in the body and thereby eliminate the related problem. Migraine is a problem that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, and a complete cure has still not been found. We anticipate that millions of people will benefit from Vagustim."