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Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS): recent advances and future directions
Christopher W Austelle1,2,3, Stewart S Cox4, Kristin E Wills4
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, USA. austelle@stanford.edu.
Summary
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a potent intervention for neurological and psychiatric conditions. Noninvasive VNS shows promise for bridging the gap between research and clinical application, offering therapeutic potential comparable to invasive methods.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an evolving therapeutic modality with growing clinical applications.
- The development of noninvasive VNS options is rapidly changing the treatment landscape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).
- To provide insights into the future potential of VNS in various medical fields.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of VNS literature was conducted using PubMed.
- The review organized findings by approved indications and exploratory research areas.
Main Results:
- VNS is approved for epilepsy, depression, obesity, headache, and post-stroke motor rehabilitation.
- Recent progress highlights the expanding clinical utility and potential of VNS.
Conclusions:
- Noninvasive VNS offers a promising avenue to translate preclinical findings to clinical practice.
- Further research is needed to optimize VNS parameters and clinical translation.
