npj Parkinsons Dis: Vagus nerve stimulation to improve frozen gait in Parkinson's patients

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) via a surgically implanted device has been approved for more than two decades as an adjunctive neuromodulation therapy for epilepsy

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) via a surgically implanted device has been approved for more than two decades as an adjunctive neuromodulation therapy for epilepsy

Figure 1 Title map of the paper

Figure 1 Title map of the paper

More recently, this treatment modality has been simplified with the introduction of hand-held non-invasive VNS (nVNS) devices

More recently, this treatment modality has been simplified with the introduction of hand-held non-invasive VNS (nVNS) devices

In addition, they measured the serum levels of selected inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in a subset of patients to assess the effects of chronic stimulation of nVNS on neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity in PD patients influence

In a group of patients, they measured serum levels of selected neurotrophins and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress before and after the experimental intervention

Thirty-three PD patients with frozen gait were randomly assigned to nVNS or controls

After baseline assessment, patients were instructed to perform six two-minute stimulations (total 12 minutes/day) at home using the nVNS/sham device (electroCore, USA) for one month

The patient is then reassessed

The patient is then reassessed

Significant improvements in key gait parameters, including walking speed, standing time, and stride length, were observed using nVNS compared to the sham

After treatment with nVNS, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and glutathione levels decreased and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly increased (P < 0.

This demonstrates the efficacy and safety of nVNS in the treatment of gait and motor function in PD patients

CONCLUSIONS : Using nVNS three times a day for one month improved gait and motor function and significantly reduced serum inflammatory markers in PD patients

Original source:
Mondal B, Choudhury S, Banerjee R, et al.
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation improves clinical and molecular biomarkers of Parkinson's disease in patients with freezing of gait .
npj Parkinsons Dis.
2021;7(1):46.
doi :10.
1038/s41531-021-00190-x Non -invasive vagus nerve stimulation improves clinical and molecular biomarkers of Parkinson's disease in patients with freezing of gait