Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Aging
(VNS Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores whether stimulating the vagus nerve, a key nerve connecting the brain and gut, can improve memory in healthy older adults. Participants will receive either active nerve stimulation through Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) or a sham (inactive) treatment while performing memory tasks. The researchers aim to determine if this method can boost memory and how overall gut and brain health influence it. Ideal participants are older adults without memory issues or major health conditions that could affect brain function. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research on memory enhancement.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial excludes people using medications known to alter cognition, so you may need to stop taking such medications to participate.
What prior data suggests that this technique is safe for older adults?
Research has shown that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is generally safe. Studies have found taVNS to be a promising, non-invasive method for addressing memory and cognitive issues. In one study, 70% of participants did not experience further memory decline after using a similar vagus nerve technique for six months.
Other research supports taVNS as a safe way to enhance brain function. In a study where participants used taVNS daily for two weeks, they reported improved mood, quality of life, and sleep, with no serious side effects. These findings suggest that taVNS is well-tolerated and could be a safe option for boosting memory and cognitive health.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) because it offers a novel, non-invasive way to potentially enhance memory function as we age. Unlike standard cognitive therapies or medications, taVNS stimulates the vagus nerve through the ear, possibly improving memory by enhancing brain activity during learning tasks. This approach is unique because it doesn't rely on drugs or lengthy interventions, and it could show benefits in a matter of minutes during specific memory tasks. This makes taVNS a promising candidate for those looking for alternative ways to maintain cognitive health without traditional medication.
What evidence suggests that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation is effective for enhancing memory in older adults?
Research has shown that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) may improve memory and thinking skills. One study found that taVNS might enhance the ability to remember new information. Another study suggested it could aid immediate recall, the ability to remember things right away. Additionally, research indicates that taVNS can improve thinking skills by facilitating better cooperation among different parts of the brain. In this trial, participants will receive either active vagus nerve stimulation or sham stimulation to assess the effects on memory and cognitive function. These findings suggest that taVNS could be a promising non-invasive method to support memory and prevent memory loss in older adults.14678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Anthony D Wagner, PhD
Principal Investigator
Stanford University
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for older adults who are cognitively healthy but want to improve their memory. Participants should be in good general health without any major neurological conditions like Alzheimer's.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive either active or sham vagus nerve stimulation during memory encoding tasks
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in recognition memory post-stimulation
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS)
Trial Overview
The study tests if a non-invasive technique called Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) can boost memory in aging individuals, and examines the role of gut and brain health in its effectiveness.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Participants will receive active stimulation during memory encoding of picture-word pairs. Active stimulation will occur during two learning phases of the learning and memory task. The total duration of these two phases will be less than 30 minutes.
Participants will receive sham stimulation during memory encoding of picture-word pairs. Sham stimulation will occur during two learning phases of the learning and memory task. The total duration of these two phases will be less than 30 minutes.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Stanford University
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborator
Citations
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation ...
These studies highlight taVNS as a promising noninvasive approach for improving memory issues and potentially mitigating cognitive decline ...
Findings from prefrontal functional connectivity analysis ...
In this study, we systematically analyzed the effects of taVNS on cognitive enhancement from the perspective of brain networks.
3.
frontiersin.org
frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1549167/fullEffects of off-line auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve ...
Discussion: Our results suggest that taVNS might selectively improve the cognitive performance during the encoding phase of the task. Although ...
Influence of a 2-week transcutaneous auricular vagus ...
Our findings suggest that taVNS has potential to improve memory, particularly immediate recall, and may be an effective method in preventing ...
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation for ...
In this randomized clinical trial, taVNS significantly reduced insomnia severity. Clinically meaningful enhancements in PSQI scores were observed compared with ...
The efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus ...
[12] reported that after application of iVNS to 17 patients with AD for 6 months, 70% of them had no further cognitive impairment. There is a unique vagus nerve ...
Safety and feasibility of transcutaneous vagus nerve ...
VINCI-AD is an investigator-led, single-site, single-blind, sham-controlled crossover pilot study which aims to assess the safety and feasibility of tVNS in 40 ...
Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in ...
Two weeks of daily tVNS improved measures of autonomic function, and some aspects of QoL, mood and sleep.
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