Vagal nerve stimulation as a promising tool in the improvement of cognitive disorders

• Published in: Brain research bulletin 2020-02, Vol.155, p.37-47
• Main Authors: Broncel, A., Bocian, R., Kłos-Wojtczak, P., Kulbat-Warycha, K., Konopacki, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer’s disease; Cognition; Dementia; Epilepsy; Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation; Vagal nerve stimulation
• ISSN: 0361-9230; 1873-2747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.11.011

•Vagal nerve stimulation can improve different types of memory.•The effect of the vagal nerve stimulation on cognition and memory depends on stimulation protocols.•Vagal nerve stimulation induces short- and long-term effect on memory performance.•Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation is a promising tool in the treatment of cognitive disorders. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) is known as an effective method of treatment in a number of neurological disorders. The low risk of side effects also makes it useful in clinical trials in other diseases. Branches of the vagal nerve innervate the anatomical structures known to be involved in memory processing. That is why it seems justified that several studies emphasize the impact of VNS on the cognitive and memory function in both healthy volunteers and patients with epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Results have shown that VNS can modulate different types of memory depending the protocol of stimulation in non-demented patients after both short term and chronic VNS application. Transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS), which is a non-invasive method of VNS, opens up new perspectives for different clinical applications.