BergenBrain

06/02/2026

People receiving needs-based epilepsy follow-up report higher satisfaction than other epilepsy patients.

BergenBrain and collaborators have published our first study on needs-based epilepsy follow-up, led by Isak Birkeland and Eline Dahl-Hansen.

In the study “Introducing needs-based epilepsy follow-up: Patient satisfaction compared to standard of care follow-up”, we examine how patient satisfaction differs between a needs-based follow-up model and standard care. Needs-based epilepsy follow-up is a personalized, patient-centred care approach, where the frequency and level of follow-up are adjusted to each individual’s needs, condition, and life circumstances.

Key findings:
- Patients receiving needs-based epilepsy follow-up reported significantly higher satisfaction and a stronger sense of being well cared for compared to those receiving standard follow-up.
- While the results are promising, further studies are needed to assess long-term outcomes and to evaluate cost–benefit implications across different patient populations and healthcare systems.
- Overall, our findings provide valuable insight into how patients perceive and experience needs-based epilepsy follow-up.

Link to the study: http://doi.org/10.1002/epd2.70183

Epilepsiforbundet EpilepsiNett Haukeland universitetssjukehus Oslo University Hospital, Drammen Hospital (Vestre Viken), Førde Hospital, Hjernerådet - med hjerte for hjernen

05/02/2026

Congratulations to Jenny Lindroos!

We are pleased to share that our PhD candidate Jenny Lindroos won 1st prize at the 21st Annual Research Presentations at the Research School in Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen. The award was given for her presentation titled “Medication Use Trajectories in Myasthenia Gravis Pregnancies”.

Making this achievement even more impressive, Jenny won 2nd prize in the same competition last year and this year she took the top spot. We are excited to follow her journey and look forward to seeing where she goes next.

Congratulations, Jenny, well deserved!

Det medisinske fakultet, UiB Haukeland universitetssjukehus

08/01/2026

Migrene, kvinnehelse og forskning: ny episode av DRIVpodden!

Før jul var Marte-Helene Bjørk gjest i Drivpodden, der hun snakker om migrene: en utbredt, men ofte underbelyst nevrologisk tilstand som rammer mange kvinner.

I samtale med Marion Solheim diskuteres hvordan migrene påvirker helse, arbeid og hverdagsliv, hvorfor kjønnsforskjeller er viktige å forstå, og hva nyere forskning kan fortelle oss om mulige årsaker og behandling. Episoden gir et nyansert og forskningsbasert bilde av en kompleks sykdom som er relevant både for fagmiljøer og allmennheten.

Marte Helene Bjork er professor i nevrologi ved Universitetet i Bergen, leder BergenBrain, overlege ved Haukeland Universitetssykehus, og visedirektør ved Norsk senter for hodepineforskning.

Om DRIV: DRIV er Det medisinske fakultets forskningskommunikasjonsplattform ved Universitetet i Bergen, som gjennom blant annet podkast løfter frem aktuell medisinsk forskning og gjør den tilgjengelig for et bredt publikum.

Link i kommentarfeltet

04/12/2025

In 2024, the European Medicines Agency introduced Europe-wide restrictions on the use of valproate in men, based on safety data indicating an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose fathers had used valproate during the 3-month spermatogenic window before conception.

The findings have been controversial and widely debated, but the safety study underlying these regulatory decisions has now finally been published – with co-authorship from Marte Helene Bjork of BergenBrain . Link to open access paper in the first comment

EpilepsiNett ILAE - International League Against Epilepsy Epilepsiforbundet Spesialsykehuset for epilepsi, SSE Universitetet i Bergen Haukeland universitetssjukehus

30/11/2025

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news from Bergen Brain!

All of our submitted applications to the Helse Vest research funding call for 2026 have been approved!!

A warm congratulations to all our successful applicants:

- Anne Mari Dalgeir – PhD Fellowship
“Headache in Youth: Burden, Prevention and Consequences for Early Adulthood.”

- Frederik Kragerud Goplen – Open Project Support
“Vestibular Migraine – Randomised Trial on the Effect of CGRP Inhibitors.”

- Marte-Helene Bjørk – International Research Fellowship (12 months)
“HEADLIGHT: AI-Enhanced Discovery of Novel and Safer Headache Treatments from Population-Wide Data in Norway and Catalonia.”

- Eivind Kolstad – Clinical Research Grant (20% position)
“Epilepsy and its Association with Anti-GAD65: Insights from Norway.”

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and grateful for the support from Helse Vest!

Congratulations to all awardees!

19/11/2025

I anledning har professor Anne Hege Aamodt ved Oslo universitetssykehus og NorHead gjestet God morgen Norge, TV 2! I gårsdagens sending snakket hun om migrene, hodepine og forskning på nye behandlingsmetoder, som:

✅ - en behandlingsstudie kronisk migrene, som er et samarbeid mellom behandlingssteder i hele landet 🏥

✅Hjemmebasert for migrene 🧠📱

Se TV2-sendingen fra 18. november her (for abonnenter):
📺https://play.tv2.no/nyheter/god-morgen-norge

🔗 Les mer om NorMig-studien og meld din interesse: https://www.oslo-universitetssykehus.no/kliniske-studier/behandlingsstudie-for-deg-med-kronisk-migrene-med-mal-om-forbedre-behandlingen/

Les mer om Hjerneuka2025:
🔗 https://www.oslo-universitetssykehus.no/om-oss/innsikt/hjerneslag-i-endring---ous-samler-forskere-fagfolk-og-brukere-under-hjerneuken-2025/

07/11/2025

Together with Neurogenetics Research Group, our collaborators in in the TeraEpi project, we examined neurodevelopment in children whose fathers used valproate before conception. Recently, such use has been restricted by drug authorities due to concerns that it might increase the risk of conditions such as autism or intellectual disability. Our findings – published today in Scientific Reports (Nature) – show that the observed association between paternal valproate use and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children can largely be explained by shared genetic susceptibility, rather than by the medication exposure itself.
This underscores the importance of considering genetic factors when evaluating potential drug effects across generations.

👉 Link to the paper in the first comment!

Kaja Selmer Kristina Gervin Universitetet i Bergen Haukeland universitetssjukehus EpilepsiNett ILAE - International League Against Epilepsy Epilepsiforbundet

27/10/2025

What is the evidence of whole-body resistance exercise on primary headaches?

Primary headaches, such as migraine, tension-type headache, and cluster headache, have debilitating consequences for the affected individual. Pharmacological treatment is often limited by side effects or lack of efficacy.

Whole-body resistance exercise is a training method that enhances strength and muscle hypertrophy, and has gained increasing popularity. We conducted a scoping review and exploratory meta-analysis to summarize the available evidence base and potential efficacy of whole-body resistance exercise on primary headaches.

Only two randomized controlled trials on migraine were identified, demonstrating large evidence gaps. No evidence was found for tension-type headache or cluster headache. Our exploratory analysis suggested benefits in people with migraine.

Read this fascinating article by our BergenBrain member Einar Møen!

Link to the article in the comment section!

05/10/2025

New study of Myasthenia Gravis Deliveries in Norway

Elective C-section is increased in patients with (MG) although emergency C-section is not. Also, other adverse delivery outcomes were similar to the general population in this Norwegian national cohort.

However, every third newborn was transferred to a neonatal unit, although only 5% got a formal diagnose of Transient Neonatal MG (TNMG). We think TNMG was underdiagnosed, since unspecified hypotonia and feeding difficulties was common, and adverse neonatal conditions were not increased overall.

Our findings suggest that obstetrical delivery with MG is generally safe with current management. However, we need to raise the awareness of TNMG!

Vigilance over typical TNMG symptoms (fatiguable bulbar weakness and hypotonia) in the first weeks of life is central, but mild and moderate TNMG should be managed without separating the child from the mother. The key is to support breastfeeding and to monitor the child until feeding is successfully established.

Check out our new publication in Neurology.

Background and ObjectivesMuscle weakness, autoantibodies, and medication use in myasthenia gravis (MG) can complicate pregnancy and delivery. Vaginal delivery is encouraged despite increased risk of acute operative delivery. Our aim was to assess ...

01/10/2025

BergenBrain is proud to have contributed 75 patients from Bergen to the CandMig study, just published in Lancet Neurology!
👉 Read the paper here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(25)00269-8/abstract

The study shows that candesartan is an effective, well-tolerated, preventive for episodic migraine — a major result that will help people in Norway and worldwide gain access to this important inexpensive treatment.

We warmly thank everyone involved:
⭐Bergenbrain co-authors and study doctors: Karine Eid, Andrej Khanevski, Jenny Lindroos, Håkon Vegrim, Ane Bakke Øvrevik
⭐Site PI: Marte Bjørk
⭐Our powerhouse study nurse: Mari Nordtveit, who guided the project safely into harbour
⭐The excellent NorHead organizers, led by first and last author Lise Rystad Øie and NorHead director Erling Tronvik
⭐ Our funders and supporters Norges forskningsråd and Haukeland universitetssjukehus

This is a true breakthrough for migraine patients — and a proud achievement for BergenBrain and NorHead. 👏

📺 See NRK’s coverage here https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/mener-norsk-studie-kan-endre-migrenebehandling-i-hele-verden-1.17575585
J Linnea Victoria Lindroos Karine Eid Andrej Netland Khanevski Håkon Magne Vegrim Ane Bakke Øvrevik Marte Helene Bjork Erling Tronvik Mari Nordtveit NorHead - Norsk senter for hodepineforskning Haukeland universitetssjukehus Det medisinske fakultet, UiB Hodepine Norge

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19/09/2025

BergenBrain & NorHead på verdensscenen
Flere medlemmer fra BergenBrain og NorHead presenterte sitt arbeid på den internasjonale hodepinekongressen (IHC) i São Paulo. Vi er stolte over at forskningen som gjøres her i Bergen når ut i den store verden og blir vist frem på internasjonale konferanser – denne gangen helt over den store dammen.

Det er inspirerende å se hvordan forskningen vår bidrar til økt kunnskap og oppmerksomhet rundt hodepine og nevrologiske sykdommer, og vi gleder oss til å fortsette å dele ny innsikt internasjonalt.

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Several members from BergenBrain and NorHead presented their work at the International Headache Congress (IHC) in São Paulo. We are proud that the research conducted here in Bergen reaches out to the world and is showcased at international conferences – this time across the Atlantic.

It is inspiring to see how our research contributes to greater knowledge and awareness about headache and neurological disorders, and we look forward to continuing to share new insights internationally.

18/09/2025

Today we celebrated the launch of our new name – BergenBrain – with cake at our regular BERG meeting!

For many years, we have been known as the Bergen Epilepsy Research Group (BERG). While our roots are in epilepsy research, our work has steadily expanded to also include headache and myasthenia gravis. To reflect this broader scope, we are now gathering all our projects under a new name: BergenBrain.

BergenBrain is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Bergen and Haukeland University Hospital. We aim to improve quality of life for people living with epilepsy, headache, and myasthenia gravis. Our umbrella includes projects that study the effects and side effects of drugs, identify risk factors, and test new technological solutions for patients and healthcare.

Read more on our brand-new website: https://bergenbrain.no/