OCTOBER 14, 2025, SEOUL/LONDON — Speaking at the World Congress of Neurology, Dr. Fumihiko Sakai Fumihiko Sakai, M.D., Director of Saitama International Headache Center, Saitama Neuropsychiatric Institute, Japan, detailed a pioneering workplace migraine program developed with Fujitsu and the Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (GPAC) — presenting evidence that large-scale education, empathy training, and virtual specialist access can reshape migraine care, reduce disability, and shift cultural attitudes in a corporate environment.
Migraine is a leading cause of disability during peak working years, yet awareness and care remain strikingly low, especially among younger adults who often do not seek treatment.
“Most migraine-related productivity loss is silent,” says Prof. Sakai. “If we cannot see it, we struggle to support the people experiencing it.”
The Fujitsu initiative engaged over 70,000 employees through e-learning, virtual consultation, and workplace exercise and wellness strategies. Completion rates exceeded 90%, and more than 70% of participants reported the education was useful — leading to measurable improvements in understanding migraine severity, reducing stigma, and encouraging care-seeking behavior.
Crucially, productivity gains were significant:
- 1.2 fewer missed workdays per employee per year
- 14 days regained annually through reduced presenteeism
- A return-on-investment measured at over 3000%, driven largely by culture change and education rather than expensive interventions
“Good education can gain a lot,” Dr. Sakai noted. “We saw attitudes shift, compassion increase, and people begin to support one another. This is the true foundation of brain-healthy workplaces.”
Beyond the workplace, Dr. Sakai underscored the importance of grassroots patient advocacy, accessible self-diagnosis tools, and AI-enabled multilingual support to connect patient communities globally. He also highlighted self-care strategies rooted in neurophysiology — demonstrating how identifying triggers and practicing cervical-trigeminal exercises may help patients distinguish and manage migraine in real time.
Looking ahead, he called for industry-wide adoption of similar programs and a cultural reframing of migraine from an invisible burden to a treatable, preventable, and human-centered workplace health priority. “This model can apply to every sector,” he said. “When companies recognize migraine as a serious condition — and empower people — everyone benefits.”
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 27th biennial conference was held in Seoul, South Korea from October 12 to 15, 2025, and was co-hosted by the Korean Neurological Association (KNA).
About the World Federation of Neurology
With support from its 126 Member Societies, the World Federation of Neurology fosters quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training, emphasizing under-resourced areas of the world. As a non-state actor in official relations, WFN supports the World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to give everyone an equal chance to live a healthy life. With Member Societies around the globe, WFN unites the world’s neurologists to ensure quality neurology and advocate for people to have better brain health. Learn more about the World Federation of Neurology at wfneurology.org.
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