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The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that sends signals between your brain and different parts of your neck, head, and torso.
There is one vagus nerve on each side of the body. It starts at the brainstem and then passes through the neck to the chest and abdomen.
Vagus nerve stimulation is a neuromodulation treatment that changes the way our brain cells work. It involves surgery to implant a device, which then sends electrical pulses along the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation is currently used to treat three medical conditions: epilepsy, depression, and mobility issues arising from an ischemic stroke. However, vagus nerve stimulation is not the first port of call. Indeed, doctors only turn to it when the problem has evaded other treatments.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
It involves implanting a device that sends regular and mild pulses of electrical energy through the vagus nerve to the brainstem.
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a neuromodulation treatment, which means it alters the activity of the nerves.
Once it reaches the brain, the electrical charge is sent out to different areas of the brain to alter the ways the cells work.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VNS to treat three separate medical conditions. The first is epilepsy.
VNS is used as an add-on therapy for treatment-resistant epilepsy in adults and children older than four years old.
VNS is also an approved treatment for adults who have long-term or recurrent major depression.
In order to qualify for VNS, a patient with depression must have tried four or more antidepressant treatments without success.
More recently, VNS has also been approved as an add-on to rehabilitation therapy for people who have suffered an ischemic stroke.
In stroke rehabilitation, VNS is used to help people recover after moderate to severe loss of arm and hand function.
Scientists do not know precisely how VNS works, but they do have a general idea. As a seizure treatment, VNS is believed to improve blood flow to critical areas of the brain.
It is also thought to alter the chaotic electrical pattern that happens during a seizure, as well as increase the level of neurotransmitters in the brain that may control seizure development.
In the context of depression treatment, VNS is thought to alter the level of specific neurotransmitters in the brain that help with regulating mood.
And for stroke rehabilitation, VNS is thought to stimulate the motor cortex area in the brain. This is the area that controls the ability to move the arms and hands.
In general, people who have a VNS device fitted are unaware when the device is turned on, and they do not feel the stimulation.
However, there are some possible side effects, including a tickling feeling in the throat or neck.
There is also the possibility of becoming hoarse or suffering from a mild cough when the stimulation is on.
In addition to the side effects once the device is fitted, there are also some risks associated with the implantation surgery.
Those risks include infection, pain and inflammation at the incision site, and damage to the vagus nerve or surrounding structures.
There are certain people who do not qualify for VNS treatment, including those who are pregnant, have breathing problems, or have heart abnormalities.
In terms of the expected outcome for VNS, it depends on the problem it is being used to treat. In the case of epilepsy, VNS cannot be considered a cure.
In fact, it probably will not stop the seizures completely either. Rather, the aim is to reduce the number, length, and severity of the seizures.
According to one study that looked at 454 patients, there was a 50% or greater reduction in seizures in 37% of patients after one year. That percentage rose to 43% after two years, and stayed at 43% after three years.
So far, research has not established how effective VNS can be for treating depression. This is why it is used as a last-resort treatment.
According to one study that looked at 200 patients with treatment-resistant depression, 20% to 30% of participants reported significant improvement after one year.
However, the other participants in the study either did not improve at all, or their symptoms worsened.
As a treatment for stroke rehabilitation, the FDA based its approval on the results of a study that looked at 108 patients.
The study results showed that the patients who received VNS treatment saw more improvement in limb mobility than those who did not receive it.
Going forward, researchers are investigating whether VNS could be used to treat long-term inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS).
Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (Mayo Clinic)
The incredible process of vagus nerve stimulation
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HEALTH Treatments
Vagus nerve stimulation is a neuromodulation treatment that changes the way our brain cells work. It involves surgery to implant a device, which then sends electrical pulses along the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation is currently used to treat three medical conditions: epilepsy, depression, and mobility issues arising from an ischemic stroke. However, vagus nerve stimulation is not the first port of call. Indeed, doctors only turn to it when the problem has evaded other treatments.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.