Optimizing non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation for treatment in stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Stroke is a major cause of disability, necessitating novel neuromodulatory therapies.
• Current treatments for stroke have limitations, creating an unmet need for effective interventions.
• Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) presents potential therapeutic benefits for both acute and chronic stroke.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review ongoing clinical trials of tVNS in stroke.
• To summarize upcoming tVNS stroke trials, noting indications, parameters, scope, and limitations.
• To explore challenges and barriers for implementing tVNS in stroke care and rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic searches of registered clinical trials for tVNS in stroke.
• Analysis of trial data including indications, stimulation parameters, and target populations.
• Exploration of implementation challenges, including biomarkers and rehabilitation integration.

Main Results:

• Previous research on tVNS for stroke used limited stimulation settings and indications.
• Ongoing and upcoming trials are expanding the scope of tVNS applications in stroke.
• Key areas for development include optimizing stimulation parameters and integrating tVNS with rehabilitation.

Conclusions:

• tVNS is a promising neuromodulatory approach for stroke recovery.
• Further research is needed to optimize tVNS protocols and integration strategies.
• Addressing implementation challenges is crucial for widespread clinical adoption of tVNS in stroke.