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Cibulcova V, Koenig J, Jackowska M, Jandackova VK. Influence of a 2-week transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on memory: findings from a randomized placebo controlled trial in non-clinical adults. Clin Auton Res 2024; 34:447-462. [PMID: 39039354 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-024-01053-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Memory plays an essential role in daily life and is one of the first functions to deteriorate in cognitive impairment and dementia. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a promising therapeutic method; however, its ability to enhance memory is underexplored, especially considering long-term stimulation. We aimed to investigate the effect of a 2-week course of auricular tVNS (taVNS) on memory in a non-clinical population. METHODS This single-blind randomized placebo-wait-list controlled trial recruited 76 participants (30 men; mean age 48.32 years) and randomized them into four groups: early active/sham taVNS and late active/sham taVNS. Participation in the study lasted 4 weeks; early groups underwent 2 weeks intervention immediately following the first study site visit (days 0-13) and late groups 2 weeks after the first study site visit (days 14-27). Active and sham taVNS included 2 weeks of daily 4-h neurostimulation at the tragus or earlobe, respectively. To assess memory, we used the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. RESULTS Two weeks of active taVNS, but not sham taVNS, improved immediate recall and short-term memory score both in early and late groups. Furthermore, the improvements persisted over subsequent follow-up in early active taVNS. Importantly, the effect of active taVNS was superior to sham for immediate recall in both early and late groups. There were no statistical differences in delayed recall. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that taVNS has potential to improve memory, particularly immediate recall, and may be an effective method in preventing memory loss and mitigating cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Cibulcova
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, Ostrava, 703 00, Czech Republic.
- Department of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
| | - Julian Koenig
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Vera Kr Jandackova
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Syllabova 19, Ostrava, 703 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Human Movement Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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E R, Wang Y. Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Improvement of Vascular Cognitive Impairment. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:1445-1451. [PMID: 39072312 PMCID: PMC11283790 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s465249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is acknowledged as a highly effective therapy for various neurological conditions, including refractory epilepsy, depression, Alzheimer's disease (AD), migraine, and stroke. Presently, there is an increasing focus on understanding the impact of VNS on cognitive aspects. Numerous studies suggest that VNS suppresses the body's inflammatory response, leading to enhanced cognitive function in patients. Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a severe cognitive dysfunction syndrome resulting from prolonged chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), where the primary pathogenesis is CCH-induced neuroinflammation. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the research advancements in using VNS for treating VCI and discuss that VNS improves cognitive function in VCI patients by suppressing neuroinflammation, offering insights into a potential novel approach for addressing this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridengnaxi E
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Hohhot, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, Hohhot, People’s Republic of China
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Kang D, Choi Y, Lee J, Park E, Kim IY. Analysis of taVNS effects on autonomic and central nervous systems in healthy young adults based on HRV, EEG parameters. J Neural Eng 2024; 21:046012. [PMID: 38941990 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad5d16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Objective.Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), a non-invasive method of stimulating the vagus nerve, simultaneously affects the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and central nervous system (CNS) through efferent and afferent pathways. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of taVNS on the ANS and CNS through heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalography (EEG) parameters of identified responders.Approach.Two sets of data were collected from each of 10 healthy adult male subjects in their 20 s, and five HRV parameters from the time domain (RMSSD, pNN50, pNN30, pNN20, ppNNx) and two EEG parameters (power of alpha band, power of delta band) were extracted.Main results.Based on pNN50, responders to taVNS were identified; among them, pNN50 (p= 0.0041) and ppNNx (p= 0.0037) showed significant differences before and after taVNS. At the same time, for alpha power and delta power of EEG, significant difference (p< 0.05) was observed in most channels after taVNS compared to before stimulation.Significance.This study demonstrated the validity of identifying responders using pNN50 and the influence of taVNS on both the ANS and CNS. We conclude that taVNS can be used to treat a variety of diseases and as a tool to help control the ANS and CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghun Kang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngseok Choi
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongshill Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunkyoung Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - In Young Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Giraudier M, Ventura-Bort C, Weymar M. Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on the P300: Do Stimulation Duration and Stimulation Type Matter? Brain Sci 2024; 14:690. [PMID: 39061430 PMCID: PMC11274684 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14070690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has attracted increasing interest as a neurostimulation tool with potential applications in modulating cognitive processes such as attention and memory, possibly through the modulation of the locus-coeruleus noradrenaline system. Studies examining the P300 brain-related component as a correlate of noradrenergic activity, however, have yielded inconsistent findings, possibly due to differences in stimulation parameters, thus necessitating further investigation. In this event-related potential study involving 61 participants, therefore, we examined how changes in taVNS parameters, specifically stimulation type (interval vs. continuous stimulation) and duration, influence P300 amplitudes during a visual novelty oddball task. Although no effects of stimulation were found over the whole cluster and time window of the P300, cluster-based permutation tests revealed a distinct impact of taVNS on the P300 response for a small electrode cluster, characterized by larger amplitudes observed for easy targets (i.e., stimuli that are easily discernible from standards) following taVNS compared to sham stimulation. Notably, our findings suggested that the type of stimulation significantly modulated taVNS effects on the P300, with continuous stimulation showing larger P300 differences (taVNS vs. sham) for hard targets and standards compared to interval stimulation. We observed no interaction effects of stimulation duration on the target-related P300. While our findings align with previous research, further investigation is warranted to fully elucidate the influence of taVNS on the P300 component and its potential utility as a reliable marker for neuromodulation in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Giraudier
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Campus Golm, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany; (C.V.-B.); (M.W.)
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Lee YS, Kim WJ, Shim M, Hong KH, Choi H, Song JJ, Hwang HJ. Investigating neuromodulatory effect of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation on resting-state electroencephalography. Biomed Eng Lett 2024; 14:677-687. [PMID: 38946812 PMCID: PMC11208373 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-024-00361-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuromodulatory effects of transauricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and determine optimal taVNS duration to induce the meaningful neuromodulatroty effects using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG). Method: Fifteen participants participated in this study and taVNS was applied to the cymba conchae for a duration of 40 min. Resting-state EEG was measured before and during taVNS application. EEG power spectral density (PSD) and brain network indices (clustering coefficient and path length) were calculated across five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma), respectively, to assess the neuromodulatory effect of taVNS. Moreover, we divided the whole brain region into the five regions of interest (frontal, central, left temporal, right temporal, and occipital) to confirm the neuromodulation effect on each specific brain region. Result: Our results demonstrated a significant increase in EEG frequency powers across all five frequency bands during taVNS. Furthermore, significant changes in network indices were observed in the theta and gamma bands compared to the pre-taVNS measurements. These effects were particularly pronounced after approximately 10 min of stimulation, with a more dominant impact observed after approximately 20-30 min of taVNS application. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that taVNS can effectively modulate the brain activity, thereby exerting significant effects on brain characteristics. Moreover, taVNS duration of approximately 20-30 min was considered appropriate for inducing a stable and efficient neuromodulatory effects. Consequently, these findings have the potential to contribute to research aimed at enhancing cognitive and motor functions through the modulation of EEG using taVNS. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13534-024-00361-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Sung Lee
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo-Jin Kim
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Miseon Shim
- Department of Artificial Intelligence, Tech University of Korea, Siheung, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hwan Hong
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuk Choi
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 028411 Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Song
- Neurive Co., Ltd, Gimhae, 50969 Republic of Korea
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, 08308 Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Jeong Hwang
- Department of Electronics and Information, Korea University, Sejong, 30019 Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program for Artificial Intelligence Smart Convergence Technology, Korea University, Sejong, Republic of Korea
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Zheng ZS, Simonian N, Wang J, Rosario ER. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation improves Long COVID symptoms in a female cohort: a pilot study. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1393371. [PMID: 38756213 PMCID: PMC11097097 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1393371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Long COVID, also known as Post-COVID-19 syndrome, is characterized by multisystemic symptoms that persists for weeks to years beyond acute infection. It disproportionately affects women and those with pre-existing anxiety/depression, conditions more prevalent in females. The vagus nerve, with its extensive innervation and regulation of critical bodily functions, has become a focal point for therapeutic interventions. Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment for COVID-19 conditions. Methods This pilot study assessed the efficacy of t-VNS in 24 female Long COVID patients (45.8 ± 11.7 years old; 20.2 ± 7.1 months since infection), who underwent a 10-day t-VNS intervention at home (30 min/session, twice a day). Cognition was considered the primary outcome, with anxiety, depression, sleep, fatigue, and smell as secondary outcomes. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Results Significant improvements were observed in various cognitive functions, anxiety, depression, and sleep at post-intervention, with benefits remaining or progressing at 1-month follow-up. Improvements in fatigue were delayed, reaching statistical significance at 1-month follow-up compared to baseline. No significant changes were noted in olfactory performance. Conclusion This pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting the potential of t-VNS as a therapeutic intervention for female Long COVID patients. The encouraging results justify further rigorous investigation through larger, randomized controlled trials to confirm the efficacy of t-VNS, assess its generalizability to male cohorts, and explore biological markers to inform personalized treatment approaches. Our findings support the allocation of resources to conduct such trials and advance the understanding of t-VNS as a potential treatment for Long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong Sheng Zheng
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Ninette Simonian
- Institute of Advanced Consciousness Studies, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Jing Wang
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Emily R. Rosario
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
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Yuksel C, Watford L, Muranaka M, McCoy E, Lax H, Mendelsohn AK, Oliver KI, Daffre C, Acosta A, Vidrin A, Martinez U, Lasko N, Orr S, Pace-Schott EF. REM disruption and REM Vagal Activity Predict Extinction Recall in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.28.560007. [PMID: 37808660 PMCID: PMC10557699 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.560007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that rapid eye movement sleep (REM) supports the consolidation of extinction memory. REM is disrupted in PTSD, and REM abnormalities after traumatic events increase the risk of developing PTSD. Therefore, it was hypothesized that abnormal REM in trauma-exposed individuals may pave the way for PTSD by interfering with the processing of extinction memory. In addition, PTSD patients display reduced vagal activity. Vagal activity contributes to the strengthening of memories, including fear extinction memory, and recent studies show that the role of vagus in memory processing extends to memory consolidation during sleep. Therefore, it is plausible that reduced vagal activity during sleep in trauma-exposed individuals may be an additional mechanism that impairs extinction memory consolidation. However, to date, the contribution of sleep vagal activity to the consolidation of extinction memory or any emotional memory has not been investigated. To test these hypotheses, we examined the association of extinction memory with REM characteristics and REM vagal activity (indexed as heart rate variability) in a large sample of trauma-exposed individuals (n=113). Consistent with our hypotheses, REM disruption was associated with poorer physiological and explicit extinction memory. Furthermore, higher vagal activity during REM was associated with better explicit extinction memory, and physiological extinction memory in males. These findings support the notion that abnormal REM may contribute to PTSD by impairing the consolidation of extinction memory and indicate the potential utility of interventions that target REM sleep characteristics and REM vagal activity in fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cagri Yuksel
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | - Hannah Lax
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Augustus Kram Mendelsohn
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Katelyn I. Oliver
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Carolina Daffre
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Alexis Acosta
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Abegail Vidrin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Uriel Martinez
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Natasha Lasko
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Scott Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
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Morais A, Chung JY, Wu L, Ayata C, Simon B, Whalen MJ. Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation Pre-Treatment Reduces Neurological Dysfunction After Closed Head Injury in Mice. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:150-158. [PMID: 38435077 PMCID: PMC10908330 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2023.0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has recently been suggested as a potential therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). We previously demonstrated that nVNS inhibits cortical spreading depolarization, the electrophysiological event underlying migraine aura, and is relevant to TBI. Our past work also suggests a role for interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in cognitive deficits after closed head injury (CHI) in mice. We show that nVNS pre-treatment suppresses CHI-associated spatial learning and memory impairment and prevents IL-1β activation in injured neurons, but not endothelial cells. In contrast, nVNS administered 10 min after CHI was ineffective. These data suggest that nVNS prophylaxis might ameliorate neuronal dysfunction associated with CHI in populations at high risk for concussive TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Morais
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joon Yong Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Limin Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Cenk Ayata
- Neurovascular Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bruce Simon
- ElectroCore, Inc., Basking Ridge, New Jersey, USA
| | - Michael J. Whalen
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
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Sleem T, Decourt B, Sabbagh MN. Nonmedication Devices in Development for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2024; 8:241-255. [PMID: 38405349 PMCID: PMC10894612 DOI: 10.3233/adr-230115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Huge investments continue to be made in treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with more than one hundred drugs currently in development. Pharmacological approaches and drug development, particularly those targeting amyloid-β, have dominated the therapeutic landscape. At the same time, there is also a growing interest in devices for treating AD. This review aimed to identify and describe devices under development for AD treatment. In this review, we queried the devices that are in development for the treatment of AD. PubMed was searched through the end of 2021 using the terms "device," "therapeutics," and "Alzheimer's" for articles that report on devices to treat AD. Ten devices with 31 references were identified as actively being developed for the treatment of AD. Many of these devices are far along in development. Device-based therapies are often overlooked when evaluating treatment approaches to AD. However, many devices for treating AD are in development and some show promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Sleem
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Boris Decourt
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Marwan N. Sabbagh
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Jelinek M, Lipkova J, Duris K. Vagus nerve stimulation as immunomodulatory therapy for stroke: A comprehensive review. Exp Neurol 2024; 372:114628. [PMID: 38042360 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Stroke is a devastating cerebrovascular pathology with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of stroke. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a promising immunomodulatory method that has shown positive effects in stroke treatment, including neuroprotection, anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, reduced infarct volume, improved neurological scores, and promotion of M2 microglial polarization. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the vagus nerve's immunomodulatory effects through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) and provide a comprehensive assessment of the available experimental literature focusing on the use of VNS in stroke treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matyas Jelinek
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jolana Lipkova
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kamil Duris
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Neurosurgery, The University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Lähde N, Basnyat P, Raitanen J, Lehtimäki K, Rosti‐Otajärvi E, Peltola J. Longitudinal EpiTrack assessment of executive functions following vagus nerve stimulation therapy in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:150-163. [PMID: 37897151 PMCID: PMC10839331 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate executive functions and attention with repeated EpiTrack evaluations in a group of DR patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) during a follow-up duration of up to 5 years. METHODS The study involved 33 patients with DRE who were assessed with EpiTrack as a part of the clinical VNS protocol. Evaluations were scheduled prior to VNS implantation and then at 6 months, 12 months, and yearly thereafter. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted follow-up. Therefore, changes in EpiTrack total scores over time were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects (LMEs) model to compensate for the variation in follow-up duration when predicting EpiTrack total score changes over 5 years. RESULTS The median follow-up time was 29 months. During each month, the EpiTrack total score was predicted to increase by 0.07 units (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.12, P = 0.02), corresponding to a change from a baseline score of 27.3 (severe impairment) to a score of 28.9 (mild impairment) at 2 years and a score of 31.5 (almost normal) at 5 years. In the group of patients with psychiatric comorbidities, the EpiTrack total score increased by 0.14 units per month (P = 0.003), which was 3.5-fold higher than the increase of patients without psychiatric comorbidities. For the patients taking 1-2 antiseizure medications (ASMs), the EpiTrack total score increased by 0.11 units per month (P = 0.005), which was almost quadruple the rate of patients taking 3-4 ASMs. SIGNIFICANCE Based on EpiTrack total scores, the LME model predicted a four-point improvement in executive functions among patients with DRE at 5 years after the initiation of VNS, representing a clinically meaningful change. DRE patients with comorbid depression seemed to experience the most cognitive benefits. In addition, better cognitive outcomes were achieved if the patient took less than three ASMs. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Executive functions and attention may improve during vagus nerve stimulation therapy in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy patients who have depression or use fewer than three antiseizure medications are likely to benefit cognitively more from the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niina Lähde
- Department of NeurologyTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Pabitra Basnyat
- Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
| | - Jani Raitanen
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Health SciencesTampere UniversityTampereFinland
- UKK Institute for Health Promotion ResearchTampereFinland
| | - Kai Lehtimäki
- Department of NeurologyTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
- Department of NeurosurgeryTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Eija Rosti‐Otajärvi
- Department of NeurologyTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
- Department of Rehabilitation and Psychosocial SupportTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
| | - Jukka Peltola
- Department of NeurologyTampere University HospitalTampereFinland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityTampereFinland
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Rykov YG, Patterson MD, Gangwar BA, Jabar SB, Leonardo J, Ng KP, Kandiah N. Predicting cognitive scores from wearable-based digital physiological features using machine learning: data from a clinical trial in mild cognitive impairment. BMC Med 2024; 22:36. [PMID: 38273340 PMCID: PMC10809621 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03252-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Continuous assessment and remote monitoring of cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) enables tracking therapeutic effects and modifying treatment to achieve better clinical outcomes. While standardized neuropsychological tests are inconvenient for this purpose, wearable sensor technology collecting physiological and behavioral data looks promising to provide proxy measures of cognitive function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of digital physiological features, based on sensor data from wrist-worn wearables, in determining neuropsychological test scores in individuals with MCI. METHODS We used the dataset collected from a 10-week single-arm clinical trial in older adults (50-70 years old) diagnosed with amnestic MCI (N = 30) who received a digitally delivered multidomain therapeutic intervention. Cognitive performance was assessed before and after the intervention using the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) from which composite scores were calculated (executive function, processing speed, immediate memory, delayed memory and global cognition). The Empatica E4, a wrist-wearable medical-grade device, was used to collect physiological data including blood volume pulse, electrodermal activity, and skin temperature. We processed sensors' data and extracted a range of physiological features. We used interpolated NTB scores for 10-day intervals to test predictability of scores over short periods and to leverage the maximum of wearable data available. In addition, we used individually centered data which represents deviations from personal baselines. Supervised machine learning was used to train models predicting NTB scores from digital physiological features and demographics. Performance was evaluated using "leave-one-subject-out" and "leave-one-interval-out" cross-validation. RESULTS The final sample included 96 aggregated data intervals from 17 individuals. In total, 106 digital physiological features were extracted. We found that physiological features, especially measures of heart rate variability, correlated most strongly to the executive function compared to other cognitive composites. The model predicted the actual executive function scores with correlation r = 0.69 and intra-individual changes in executive function scores with r = 0.61. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrated that wearable-based physiological measures, primarily HRV, have potential to be used for the continuous assessments of cognitive function in individuals with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jacklyn Leonardo
- Dementia Research Centre, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kok Pin Ng
- Department of Neurology, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nagaendran Kandiah
- Dementia Research Centre, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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13
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Hoffmann M, Rossi F, Benes Lima L, King C. Frontotemporal disorders: the expansive panoply of syndromes and spectrum of etiologies. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1305071. [PMID: 38264092 PMCID: PMC10803619 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1305071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Frontotemporal lobe disorders (FTD) are amongst the most common brain neurodegenerative disorders. Their relatively covert, frequently subtle presentations and diverse etiologies, pose major challenges in diagnosis and treatments. Recent studies have yielded insights that the etiology in the majority are due to environmental and sporadic causes, rather than genetic in origin. Aims To retrospectively examine the cognitive and behavioral impairments in the veteran population to garner the range of differing syndrome presentations and etiological subcategories with a specific focus on frontotemporal lobe disorders. Methodology The design is a retrospective, observational registry, case series with the collection of epidemiological, clinical, cognitive, laboratory and radiological data on people with cognitive and behavioral disorders. Inclusion criteria for entry were veterans evaluated exclusively at Orlando VA Healthcare System, neurology section, receiving a diagnosis of FTD by standard criteria, during the observation period dated from July 2016 to March 2021. Frontotemporal disorders (FTD) were delineated into five clinical 5 subtypes. Demographic, cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive, behavioral neurological, neuroimaging data and presumed etiological categories, were collected for those with a diagnosis of frontotemporal disorder. Results Of the 200 patients with FTD, further cognitive, behavioral neurological evaluation with standardized, metric testing was possible in 105 patients. Analysis of the etiological groups revealed significantly different younger age of the traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Gulf War Illness (GWI) veterans who also had higher Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) scores. The TBI group also had significantly more abnormalities of hypometabolism, noted on the PET brain scans. Behavioral neurological testing was notable for the findings that once a frontotemporal disorder had been diagnosed, the four different etiological groups consistently had abnormal FRSBE scores for the 3 principal frontal presentations of (i) abulia/apathy, (ii) disinhibition, and (iii) executive dysfunction as well as abnormal Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI) scores with no significant difference amongst the etiological groups. The most common sub-syndromes associated with frontotemporal syndromes were the Geschwind-Gastaut syndrome (GGS), Klüver-Bucy syndrome (KBS), involuntary emotional expression disorder (IEED), cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCA), traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) and prosopagnosia. Comparisons with the three principal frontal lobe syndrome clusters (abulia, disinhibition, executive dysfunction) revealed a significant association with abnormal disinhibition FRSBE T-scores with the GGS. The regression analysis supported the potential contribution of disinhibition behavior that related to this complex, relatively common behavioral syndrome in this series. The less common subsyndromes in particular, were notable, as they constituted the initial overriding, presenting symptoms and syndromes characterized into 16 separate conditions. Conclusion By deconstructing FTD into the multiple sub-syndromes and differing etiologies, this study may provide foundational insights, enabling a more targeted precision medicine approach for future studies, both in treating the sub-syndromes as well as the underlying etiological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hoffmann
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, United States
- Orlando VA Healthcare System, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Fabian Rossi
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Orlando VA Healthcare System, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Lourdes Benes Lima
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, United States
| | - Christian King
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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14
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Trifilio E, Shortell D, Olshan S, O’Neal A, Coyne J, Lamb D, Porges E, Williamson J. Impact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on healthy cognitive and brain aging. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1184051. [PMID: 37575296 PMCID: PMC10416636 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1184051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence for clinically meaningful benefits of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been rapidly accumulating over the past 15 years. This relatively novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique has been applied to a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer's disease. More recently, non-invasive forms of VNS have allowed for investigations within healthy aging populations. These results offer insight into protocol considerations specific to older adults and how to translate those results into effective clinical trials and, ultimately, effective clinical care. In this review, we characterize the possible mechanisms by which non-invasive VNS may promote healthy aging (e.g., neurotransmitter effects, inflammation regulation, functional connectivity changes), special considerations for applying non-invasive VNS in an older adult population (e.g., vagus nerve changes with age), and how non-invasive VNS may be used in conjunction with existing behavioral interventions (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive training) to promote healthy emotional and cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Trifilio
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Destin Shortell
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sarah Olshan
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexandria O’Neal
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jozee Coyne
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Damon Lamb
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Eric Porges
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - John Williamson
- Center for OCD and Anxiety Related Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center, Malcom Randall VAMC, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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15
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Naparstek S, Yeh AK, Mills-Finnerty C. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) applications in cognitive aging: a review and commentary. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1145207. [PMID: 37496757 PMCID: PMC10366452 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1145207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiating healthy from pathological aging trajectories is extremely timely, as the global population faces an inversion where older adults will soon outnumber younger 5:1. Many cognitive functions (e.g., memory, executive functions, and processing speed) decline with age, a process that can begin as early as midlife, and which predicts subsequent diagnosis with dementia. Although dementia is a devastating and costly diagnosis, there remains limited evidence for medications, therapies, and devices that improve cognition or attenuate the transition into dementia. There is an urgent need to intervene early in neurodegenerative processes leading to dementia (e.g., depression and mild cognitive impairment). In this targeted review and commentary, we highlight transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) as a neurostimulation method with unique opportunities for applications in diseases of aging, reviewing recent literature, feasibility of use with remote data collection methods/telehealth, as well as limitations and conflicts in the literature. In particular, small sample sizes, uneven age distributions of participants, lack of standardized protocols, and oversampling of non-representative groups (e.g., older adults with no comorbid diagnoses) limit our understanding of the potential of this method. We offer recommendations for how to improve representativeness, statistical power, and generalizability of tVNS research by integrating remote data collection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Naparstek
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ashley K. Yeh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Colleen Mills-Finnerty
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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16
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Chen CW, Kwok YT, Cheng YT, Huang YS, Kuo TBJ, Wu CH, Du PJ, Yang AC, Yang CCH. Reduced slow-wave activity and autonomic dysfunction during sleep precede cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11231. [PMID: 37433857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38214-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Occurrence of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation in brain begins before the clinical onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as preclinical AD. Studies have reported that sleep problems and autonomic dysfunction associate closely with AD. However, whether they, especially the interaction between sleep and autonomic function, play critical roles in preclinical AD are unclear. Therefore, we investigated how sleep patterns and autonomic regulation at different sleep-wake stages changed and whether they were related to cognitive performance in pathogenesis of AD mice. Polysomnographic recordings in freely-moving APP/PS1 and wild-type (WT) littermates were collected to study sleep patterns and autonomic function at 4 (early disease stage) and 8 months of age (advanced disease stage), cognitive tasks including novel object recognition and Morris water maze were performed, and Aβ levels in brain were measured. APP/PS1 mice at early stage of AD pathology with Aβ aggregation but without significant differences in cognitive performance had frequent sleep-wake transitions, lower sleep-related delta power percentage, lower overall autonomic activity, and lower parasympathetic activity mainly during sleep compared with WT mice. The same phenomenon was observed in advanced-stage APP/PS1 mice with significant cognitive deficits. In mice at both disease stages, sleep-related delta power percentage correlated positively with memory performance. At early stage, memory performance correlated positively with sympathetic activity during wakefulness; at advanced stage, memory performance correlated positively with parasympathetic activity during both wakefulness and sleep. In conclusion, sleep quality and distinction between wake- and sleep-related autonomic function may be biomarkers for early AD detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Wen Chen
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Leisure Management, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Yam-Ting Kwok
- Department of Neurology, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Cheng
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Shan Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Terry B J Kuo
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Mind and Brain Medicine, Tsaotun Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Han Wu
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Jing Du
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Albert C Yang
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Institute of Brain Science, Digital Medicine and Smart Healthcare Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Cheryl C H Yang
- Institute of Brain Science, Brain Research Center, and Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, No. 155, Sec. 2, Li-Nong St., Taipei, 11221, Taiwan.
- Sleep Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Brain Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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17
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Olsen LK, Solis E, McIntire LK, Hatcher-Solis CN. Vagus nerve stimulation: mechanisms and factors involved in memory enhancement. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1152064. [PMID: 37457500 PMCID: PMC10342206 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1152064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been recognized as a useful neuromodulation tool to target the central nervous system by electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. Activation of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the brainstem by vagal afferent nerve fibers allows for modulation of various higher order brain regions, including limbic and cerebral cortex structures. Along with neurological and psychiatric indications, clinical and preclinical studies suggest that VNS can improve memory. While the underlying mechanisms to improve memory with VNS involve brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex and processes including alertness and arousal, here we focus on VNS-induced memory improvements related to the hippocampus, the main area implicated in memory acquisition. In addition, we detail research demonstrating that a targeted approach to VNS can modify memory outcomes and delve into the molecular mechanisms associated with these changes. These findings indicate that a greater understanding of VNS mechanisms while also considering stimulation parameters, administration site, timing in relation to training, and sex-specific factors, may allow for optimal VNS application to enhance memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K. Olsen
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Cognitive Neuroscience, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, United States
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ernesto Solis
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Aerospace Physiology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, United States
- Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Lindsey K. McIntire
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Cognitive Neuroscience, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, United States
- Infoscitex Corporation, Dayton, OH, United States
| | - Candice N. Hatcher-Solis
- Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, Cognitive Neuroscience, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, United States
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18
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Kanatome A, Takara T, Umeda S, Ano Y. Effects of matured hop bitter acids on heart rate variability and cognitive performance: A randomized placebo-controlled crossover trial. J Funct Foods 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2022.105383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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19
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Bok J, Ha J, Ahn BJ, Jang Y. Disease-Modifying Effects of Non-Invasive Electroceuticals on β-Amyloid Plaques and Tau Tangles for Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010679. [PMID: 36614120 PMCID: PMC9821138 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroceuticals refer to various forms of electronic neurostimulators used for therapy. Interdisciplinary advances in medical engineering and science have led to the development of the electroceutical approach, which involves therapeutic agents that specifically target neural circuits, to realize precision therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). To date, extensive studies have attempted to elucidate the disease-modifying effects of electroceuticals on areas in the brain of a patient with AD by the use of various physical stimuli, including electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic waves as well as ultrasound. Herein, we review non-invasive stimulatory systems and their effects on β-amyloid plaques and tau tangles, which are pathological molecular markers of AD. Therefore, this review will aid in better understanding the recent technological developments, applicable methods, and therapeutic effects of electronic stimulatory systems, including transcranial direct current stimulation, 40-Hz gamma oscillations, transcranial magnetic stimulation, electromagnetic field stimulation, infrared light stimulation and ionizing radiation therapy, and focused ultrasound for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsoo Bok
- Department of Medical and Digital Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea
| | - Juchan Ha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea
| | - Bum Ju Ahn
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongwoo Jang
- Department of Medical and Digital Engineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04736, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2220-0655
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20
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Noninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in the Treatment of Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Review Article. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/ijpbs-123423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
: Methamphetamine (MA) use and the mortality it causes are increasing worldwide. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the destructive effects of MA use are complex; however, there is much evidence that MA induces the dysfunction of monoaminergic transmission and causes oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, gliosis, and apoptosis. These toxic effects are associated with cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity and with an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system, which altogether manifest themselves in clinical symptoms, such as neuropsychiatric disorders and cardiovascular diseases. There is no approved treatment for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) despite all efforts made to date. The behavioral and pharmacological approaches currently used for the treatment of MUD are not completely effective. In this study, it is hypothesized that the stimulation of the vagus nerve and biological pathways underlying the processes of this stimulation might be effective as adjunctive therapy. Despite the potential effects of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to improve MUD, no study has yet examined the clinical potential effects of VNS in patients with the disorder. Therefore, further studies, including experimental and clinical trials, are needed to examine the effects of VNS on MUD.
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21
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Giraudier M, Ventura-Bort C, Burger AM, Claes N, D'Agostini M, Fischer R, Franssen M, Kaess M, Koenig J, Liepelt R, Nieuwenhuis S, Sommer A, Usichenko T, Van Diest I, von Leupoldt A, Warren CM, Weymar M. Evidence for a modulating effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) on salivary alpha-amylase as indirect noradrenergic marker: A pooled mega-analysis. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:1378-1388. [PMID: 36183953 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has received tremendous attention as a potential neuromodulator of cognitive and affective functions, which likely exerts its effects via activation of the locus coeruleus-noradrenaline (LC-NA) system. Reliable effects of taVNS on markers of LC-NA system activity, however, have not been demonstrated yet. METHODS The aim of the present study was to overcome previous limitations by pooling raw data from a large sample of ten taVNS studies (371 healthy participants) that collected salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) as a potential marker of central NA release. RESULTS While a meta-analytic approach using summary statistics did not yield any significant effects, linear mixed model analyses showed that afferent stimulation of the vagus nerve via taVNS increased sAA levels compared to sham stimulation (b = 0.16, SE = 0.05, p = 0.001). When considering potential confounders of sAA, we further replicated previous findings on the diurnal trajectory of sAA activity. CONCLUSION(S) Vagal activation via taVNS increases sAA release compared to sham stimulation, which likely substantiates the assumption that taVNS triggers NA release. Moreover, our results highlight the benefits of data pooling and data sharing in order to allow stronger conclusions in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Giraudier
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Carlos Ventura-Bort
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Nathalie Claes
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Rico Fischer
- Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | | | - Michael Kaess
- University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Centre for Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julian Koenig
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Cologne, Germany
| | - Roman Liepelt
- Department of General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, Action, Faculty of Psychology, University of Hagen (FernUniversität in Hagen), Hagen, Germany
| | - Sander Nieuwenhuis
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, Netherlands
| | - Aldo Sommer
- Department of General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, Action, Faculty of Psychology, University of Hagen (FernUniversität in Hagen), Hagen, Germany; Department of Exercise Physiology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Taras Usichenko
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medicine of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Ilse Van Diest
- Research Group Health Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Christopher M Warren
- Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Utah State University, United States
| | - Mathias Weymar
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
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22
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Zhang H, Li CL, Qu Y, Yang YX, Du J, Zhao Y. Effects and neuroprotective mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation on cognitive impairment with traumatic brain injury in animal studies: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:963334. [PMID: 36237612 PMCID: PMC9551312 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.963334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cognitive impairment is the main clinical feature after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is usually characterized by attention deficits, memory loss, and decreased executive function. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been reported to show potential improvement in the cognition level after traumatic brain injury in clinical and preclinical studies. However, this topic has not yet been systematically reviewed in published literature. In this study, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of VNS on cognitive function in animal models of TBI and their underlying mechanisms. Methods We performed a literature search on PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2021 to identify studies describing the effects of VNS on animal models of TBI. Results Overall, nine studies were identified in animal models (36 mice, 268 rats, and 27 rabbits). An analysis of these studies showed that VNS can improve the performance of TBI animals in behavioral tests (beam walk test: SMD: 4.95; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.66, 6.23; p < 0.00001) and locomotor placing tests (SMD: -2.39; 95% CI: -4.07, -0.71; p = 0.005), whereas it reduced brain edema (SMD: -1.58; 95% CI: -2.85, -0.31; p = 0. 01) and decrease TNF-α (SMD: -3.49; 95% CI: -5.78, -1.2; p = 0.003) and IL-1β (SMD: -2.84; 95% CI: -3.96, -1.71; p < 0.00001) expression level in the brain tissue. However, the checklist for SYRCLE showed a moderate risk of bias (quality score between 30% and 60%), mainly because of the lack of sample size calculation, random assignment, and blinded assessment. Conclusion The present review showed that VNS can effectively promote cognitive impairment and neuropathology in animal models of TBI. We hope that the results of this systematic review can be applied to improve the methodological quality of animal experiments on TBI, which will provide more important and conclusive evidence on the clinical value of VNS. To further confirm these results, there is a need for high-quality TBI animal studies with sufficient sample size and a more comprehensive outcome evaluation. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021290797, identifier: CRD42021290797.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chun-liu Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Yun Qu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-xuan Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China
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Dolphin H, Dukelow T, Finucane C, Commins S, McElwaine P, Kennelly SP. “The Wandering Nerve Linking Heart and Mind” – The Complementary Role of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Modulating Neuro-Cardiovascular and Cognitive Performance. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:897303. [PMID: 35784842 PMCID: PMC9245542 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.897303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the human body, providing afferent information about visceral sensation, integrity and somatic sensations to the CNS via brainstem nuclei to subcortical and cortical structures. Its efferent arm influences GI motility and secretion, cardiac ionotropy, chonotropy and heart rate variability, blood pressure responses, bronchoconstriction and modulates gag and cough responses via palatine and pharyngeal innervation. Vagus nerve stimulation has been utilized as a successful treatment for intractable epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression, and new non-invasive transcutaneous (t-VNS) devices offer equivalent therapeutic potential as invasive devices without the surgical risks. t-VNS offers exciting potential as a therapeutic intervention in cognitive decline and aging populations, classically affected by reduced cerebral perfusion by modulating both limbic and frontal cortical structures, regulating cerebral perfusion and improving parasympathetic modulation of the cardiovascular system. In this narrative review we summarize the research to date investigating the cognitive effects of VNS therapy, and its effects on neurocardiovascular stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Dolphin
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- *Correspondence: Helena Dolphin,
| | - Tim Dukelow
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Finucane
- Department of Medical Physics, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean Commins
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Paul McElwaine
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sean P. Kennelly
- Department of Age-Related Healthcare, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Fogel HP, Winfree CJ. What’s New in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation. Neurosurg Clin N Am 2022; 33:323-330. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nec.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Osorio-Forero A, Cherrad N, Banterle L, Fernandez LMJ, Lüthi A. When the Locus Coeruleus Speaks Up in Sleep: Recent Insights, Emerging Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23095028. [PMID: 35563419 PMCID: PMC9099715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, numerous seminal studies have built our understanding of the locus coeruleus (LC), the vertebrate brain’s principal noradrenergic system. Containing a numerically small but broadly efferent cell population, the LC provides brain-wide noradrenergic modulation that optimizes network function in the context of attentive and flexible interaction with the sensory environment. This review turns attention to the LC’s roles during sleep. We show that these roles go beyond down-scaled versions of the ones in wakefulness. Novel dynamic assessments of noradrenaline signaling and LC activity uncover a rich diversity of activity patterns that establish the LC as an integral portion of sleep regulation and function. The LC could be involved in beneficial functions for the sleeping brain, and even minute alterations in its functionality may prove quintessential in sleep disorders.
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Vargas-Caballero M, Warming H, Walker R, Holmes C, Cruickshank G, Patel B. Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Potential Therapy in Early Alzheimer's Disease: A Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:866434. [PMID: 35572001 PMCID: PMC9098960 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.866434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by disturbances in neuronal circuits of the brain underpinned by synapse loss, neuronal dysfunction and neuronal death. Amyloid beta and tau protein cause these pathological changes and enhance neuroinflammation, which in turn modifies disease progression and severity. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), via activation of the locus coeruleus (LC), results in the release of catecholamines in the hippocampus and neocortex, which can enhance synaptic plasticity and reduce inflammatory signalling. Vagal nerve stimulation has shown promise to enhance cognitive ability in animal models. Research in rodents has shown that VNS can have positive effects on basal synaptic function and synaptic plasticity, tune inflammatory signalling, and limit the accumulation of amyloid plaques. Research in humans with invasive and non-invasive VNS devices has shown promise for the modulation of cognition. However, the direct stimulation of the vagus nerve afforded with the invasive procedure carries surgical risks. In contrast, non-invasive VNS has the potential to be a broadly available therapy to manage cognitive symptoms in early AD, however, the magnitude and specificity of its effects remains to be elucidated, and the non-inferiority of the effects of non-invasive VNS as compared with invasive VNS still needs to be established. Ongoing clinical trials with healthy individuals and patients with early AD will provide valuable information to clarify the potential benefits of non-invasive VNS in cognition and AD. Whether invasive or non-invasive VNS can produce a significant improvement on memory function and whether its effects can modify the progression of AD will require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hannah Warming
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Walker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Clive Holmes
- Memory Assessment and Research Centre, Southern Health Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Garth Cruickshank
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Wang Y, Li L, Li S, Fang J, Zhang J, Wang J, Zhang Z, Wang Y, He J, Zhang Y, Rong P. Toward Diverse or Standardized: A Systematic Review Identifying Transcutaneous Stimulation of Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve in Nomenclature. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:366-379. [PMID: 35396069 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES After 20 years of development, there is confusion in the nomenclature of transcutaneous stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN). We performed a systematic review of transcutaneous stimulation of ABVN in nomenclature. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search of the literature was carried out, using the bibliographic search engine PubMed. The search covered articles published up until June 11, 2020. We recorded the full nomenclature and abbreviated nomenclature same or similar to transcutaneous stimulation of ABVN in the selected eligible studies, as well as the time and author information of this nomenclature. RESULTS From 261 studies, 67 full nomenclatures and 27 abbreviated nomenclatures were finally screened out, transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and tVNS are the most common nomenclature, accounting for 38.38% and 42.06%, respectively. In a total of 97 combinations of full nomenclatures and abbreviations, the most commonly used nomenclature for the combination of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation and tVNS, accounting for 30.28%. Interestingly, the combination of full nomenclatures and abbreviations is not always a one-to-one relationship, there are ten abbreviated nomenclatures corresponding to transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation, and five full nomenclatures corresponding to tVNS. In addition, based on the analysis of the usage habits of nomenclature in 21 teams, it is found that only three teams have fixed habits, while other different teams or the same team do not always use the same nomenclature in their paper. CONCLUSIONS The phenomenon of confusion in the nomenclature of transcutaneous stimulation of ABVN is obvious and shows a trend of diversity. The nomenclature of transcutaneous stimulation of ABVN needs to become more standardized in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Li
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoyuan Li
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiliang Fang
- Department of Radiology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinling Zhang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Junying Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiakai He
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peijing Rong
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Klaming R, Simmons AN, Spadoni AD, Lerman I. Effects of Noninvasive Cervical Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Cognitive Performance But Not Brain Activation in Healthy Adults. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:424-432. [PMID: 35396072 PMCID: PMC8144242 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES While preliminary evidence suggests that noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) may enhance cognition, to our knowledge, no study has directly assessed the effects of nVNS on brain function and cognitive performance in healthy individuals. The aim of this study was therefore to assess whether nVNS enhances complex visuospatial problem solving in a normative sample. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine underlying neural substrates. MATERIAL AND METHODS Participants received transcutaneous cervical nVNS (N = 15) or sham (N = 15) stimulation during a 3 T fMRI scan. Stimulation lasted for 2 min at 24 V for nVNS and at 4.5 V for sham. Subjects completed a matrix reasoning (MR) task in the scanner and a forced-choice recognition task outside the scanner. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess group differences in cognitive performance. And linear mixed effects (LMEs) regression analysis was used to assess main and interaction effects of experimental groups, level of MR task difficulty, and recall accuracy on changes in blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal. RESULTS Subjects who received nVNS showed higher accuracy for both easy (p = 0.017) and hard (p = 0.013) items of the MR task, slower reaction times for hard items (p = 0.014), and fewer false negative errors during the forced-choice recognition task (p = 0.047). MR task difficulty related to increased activation in frontoparietal regions (p < 0.001). No difference between nVNS and sham stimulation was found on BOLD response during performance of the MR task. CONCLUSIONS We hypothesize that nVNS increased attention compared to sham, and that this effect led to enhanced executive functions, and consequently to better performance on visuospatial reasoning and recognition tasks. Results provide initial support that nVNS may be a low-risk, low-cost treatment for cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Klaming
- San Diego Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - Alan N Simmons
- San Diego Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andrea D Spadoni
- San Diego Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Imanuel Lerman
- San Diego Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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29
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Li S, Rong P, Wang Y, Jin G, Hou X, Li S, Xiao X, Zhou W, Wu Y, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Zhao B, Huang Y, Cao J, Chen H, Hodges S, Vangel M, Kong J. Comparative Effectiveness of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation vs Citalopram for Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Trial. Neuromodulation 2022; 25:450-460. [PMID: 35088753 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental illnesses. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) compared with the effectiveness of citalopram, a commonly used antidepressant, in patients with depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 107 male and female patients with MDD (55 in the taVNS group and 52 in the citalopram group) were enrolled in a prospective 12-week, single-blind, comparative effectiveness trial. Participants were recruited from the outpatient departments of three hospitals in China. Participants were randomly assigned to either taVNS treatment (eight weeks, twice per day, with an additional four-week follow-up) or citalopram treatment (12 weeks, 40 mg/d). The primary outcome was the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) measured every two weeks by trained interviewers blinded to the treatment assignment. The secondary end points included the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale and peripheral blood biochemical indexes. RESULTS The HAM-D17 scores were reduced in both treatment groups; however, there was no significant group-by-time interaction (95% CI: -0.07 to 0.15, p = 0.79). Nevertheless, we found that taVNS produced a significantly higher remission rate at week four and week six than citalopram. Both treatments were associated with significant changes in the peripheral blood levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and noradrenaline, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION taVNS resulted in symptom improvement similar to that of citalopram; thus, taVNS should be considered as a therapeutic option in the multidisciplinary management of MDD. Nevertheless, owing to the design of this study, it cannot be ruled out that the reduction in depression severity in both treatment groups could be a placebo effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyuan Li
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Peijing Rong
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guixing Jin
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xiaobing Hou
- Department of Psychiatry, Beijing First Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Suxia Li
- National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Psychiatry, Beijing First Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture, Huguo Temple Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yaping Liu
- Department of Acupuncture, Huguo Temple Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jin Cao
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Sierra Hodges
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Jian Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Bairamian D, Sha S, Rolhion N, Sokol H, Dorothée G, Lemere CA, Krantic S. Microbiota in neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction: a focus on Alzheimer's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:19. [PMID: 35248147 PMCID: PMC8898063 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00522-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The implication of gut microbiota in the control of brain functions in health and disease is a novel, currently emerging concept. Accumulating data suggest that the gut microbiota exert its action at least in part by modulating neuroinflammation. Given the link between neuroinflammatory changes and neuronal activity, it is plausible that gut microbiota may affect neuronal functions indirectly by impacting microglia, a key player in neuroinflammation. Indeed, increasing evidence suggests that interplay between microglia and synaptic dysfunction may involve microbiota, among other factors. In addition to these indirect microglia-dependent actions of microbiota on neuronal activity, it has been recently recognized that microbiota could also affect neuronal activity directly by stimulation of the vagus nerve. MAIN MESSAGES The putative mechanisms of the indirect and direct impact of microbiota on neuronal activity are discussed by focusing on Alzheimer's disease, one of the most studied neurodegenerative disorders and the prime cause of dementia worldwide. More specifically, the mechanisms of microbiota-mediated microglial alterations are discussed in the context of the peripheral and central inflammation cross-talk. Next, we highlight the role of microbiota in the regulation of humoral mediators of peripheral immunity and their impact on vagus nerve stimulation. Finally, we address whether and how microbiota perturbations could affect synaptic neurotransmission and downstream cognitive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS There is strong increasing evidence supporting a role for the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, including effects on synaptic dysfunction and neuroinflammation, which contribute to cognitive decline. Putative early intervention strategies based on microbiota modulation appear therapeutically promising for Alzheimer's disease but still require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Bairamian
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Sha Sha
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166 China
| | - Nathalie Rolhion
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Microbiota, Gut and Inflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medicine, PaCeMM, FHU, Paris, France
| | - Harry Sokol
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Microbiota, Gut and Inflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Paris Center for Microbiome Medicine, PaCeMM, FHU, Paris, France
- Gastroenterology Department, AP-HP, Saint Antoine Hospital, F-75012 Paris, France
- INRAE Micalis & AgroParisTech, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Guillaume Dorothée
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Cynthia A. Lemere
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115 USA
| | - Slavica Krantic
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
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McGrath H, Mandel M, Sandhu MRS, Lamsam L, Adenu-Mensah N, Farooque P, Spencer DD, Damisah EC. Optimizing the surgical management of MRI-negative epilepsy in the neuromodulation era. Epilepsia Open 2022; 7:151-159. [PMID: 35038792 PMCID: PMC8886105 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of intracranial electroencephalography monitoring in diagnosing and directing the appropriate therapy for MRI-negative epilepsy and to present the surgical outcomes of patients following treatment. METHODS Retrospective chart review between 2015 - 2021 at a single institution identified forty-eight patients with no lesion on MRI who received surgical intervention for their epilepsy. The outcomes assessed were the surgical treatment performed and the International League Against Epilepsy seizure outcomes at one year of follow up. RESULTS Eleven patients underwent surgery without invasive monitoring, including vagus nerve stimulation (10%), deep brain stimulation (8%), laser interstitial thermal therapy (2%) and callosotomy (2%). The remaining 37 patients received invasive monitoring followed by resection (35%), responsive neurostimulation (21%) and deep brain stimulation (15%) or no treatment (6%). At one year postoperatively, 39% were Class 1-2, 36% were Class 3-4 and 24% were Class 5. More patients with Class 1-2 or 3-4 outcomes underwent invasive monitoring (100% and 83% respectively) compared to those with poor outcomes (25%, p < 0.001). Patients with Class 1-2 outcomes more commonly underwent resection or responsive neurostimulation: 69% and 31%, respectively (p < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE The optimal management of MRI-negative focal epilepsy may involve invasive monitoring followed by resection or responsive neurostimulation in most cases, as these treatments were associated with the best seizure outcomes in our cohort. Unless multifocal epileptogenesis is clear from the non-invasive evaluation, invasive monitoring is preferred before pursuing deep brain stimulation or vagal nerve stimulation directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hari McGrath
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Mauricio Mandel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Mani R S Sandhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Layton Lamsam
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Nana Adenu-Mensah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Pue Farooque
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Dennis D Spencer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
| | - Eyiyemisi C Damisah
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, USA
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Aykan S, Puglia MH, Kalaycıoğlu C, Pelphrey KA, Tuncalı T, Nalçacı E. Right Anterior Theta Hypersynchrony as a Quantitative Measure Associated with Autistic Traits and K-Cl Cotransporter KCC2 Polymorphism. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 52:61-72. [PMID: 33635423 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04924-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Our aim was to use theta coherence as a quantitative trait to investigate the relation of the polymorphisms in NKCC1 (rs3087889) and KCC2 (rs9074) channel protein genes to autistic traits (AQ) in neurotypicals. Coherence values for candidate connection regions were calculated from eyes-closed resting EEGs in two independent groups. Hypersynchrony within the right anterior region was related to AQ in both groups (p < 0.05), and variability in this hypersynchrony was related to the rs9074 polymorphism in the total group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, theta hypersynchrony within the right anterior region during eyes-closed rest can be considered a quantitative measure for autistic traits. Replicating our findings in two independent populations with different backgrounds strengthens the validity of the current study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simge Aykan
- Department of Physiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Meghan H Puglia
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Canan Kalaycıoğlu
- Department of Physiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Kevin A Pelphrey
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Timur Tuncalı
- Department of Medical Genetics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Erhan Nalçacı
- Department of Physiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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Broncel A, Bocian R, Konopacki J. Vagal Nerve Stimulation: The Effect on the Brain Oscillatory Field Potential. Neuroscience 2021; 483:127-138. [PMID: 34952159 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
More than thirty years of medical treatment with the use of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown that this therapeutic procedure works in a number of homeostatic disturbances. Although the clinical usage of VNS has a long history, our knowledge about the central mechanisms underlying this treatment is still limited. In the present paper we review the effects of VNS on brain oscillations as a possible electrophysiological bio-marker of VNS efficacy. The review was prepared mainly on the basis of data delivered from clinical observations and the outcomes of electrophysiological experiments conducted on laboratory animals that are available in PubMed. We consciously did not focus on epileptiform activity understood as a pathologic oscillatory activity, which was widely discussed in the numerous previously published reviews. The main conclusion of the present paper is that further, well-designed experiments on laboratory animals are absolutely necessary to address the electrophysiological issues. These will fill a number of gaps in our present knowledge of the central mechanisms underlying VNS therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Broncel
- Medical Technology Centre, Natolin 15, 92-701 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Renata Bocian
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, The University of Lodz, Pomorska St. No. 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
| | - Jan Konopacki
- Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, The University of Lodz, Pomorska St. No. 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.
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Berger A, Vespa S, Dricot L, Dumoulin M, Iachim E, Doguet P, Vandewalle G, El Tahry R. How Is the Norepinephrine System Involved in the Antiepileptic Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:790943. [PMID: 34924947 PMCID: PMC8675889 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.790943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive treatment for patients suffering from inoperable drug-resistant epilepsy. Although a complete understanding of the mediators involved in the antiepileptic effects of VNS and their complex interactions is lacking, VNS is known to trigger the release of neurotransmitters that have seizure-suppressing effects. In particular, norepinephrine (NE) is a neurotransmitter that has been associated with the clinical effects of VNS by preventing seizure development and by inducing long-term plastic changes that could restore a normal function of the brain circuitry. However, the biological requisites to become responder to VNS are still unknown. In this review, we report evidence of the critical involvement of NE in the antiepileptic effects of VNS in rodents and humans. Moreover, we emphasize the hypothesis that the functional integrity of the noradrenergic system could be a determining factor to obtain clinical benefits from the therapy. Finally, encouraging avenues of research involving NE in VNS treatment are discussed. These could lead to the personalization of the stimulation parameters to maximize the antiepileptic effects and potentially improve the response rate to the therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Berger
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Synergia Medical SA, Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium.,GIGA-Cyclotron Research Center-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Simone Vespa
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laurence Dricot
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manon Dumoulin
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Evelina Iachim
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Pediatric Neurology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Gilles Vandewalle
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Center-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Riëm El Tahry
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Center for Refractory Epilepsy, Department of Neurology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
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Wang Z, Zhao G, Zibrila AI, Li Y, Liu J, Feng W. Acetylcholine ameliorated hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in trophoblast cells via p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:6318781. [PMID: 34245298 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of trophoblast are involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Extensive research reports that the principal vagal neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) shows anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects in various diseases models. However, the role of ACh in hypoxic trophoblast remains unknown. Here, we examined the apoptotic levels of human placenta and explored the role(s) of ACh on cobalt chloride (CoCl2)-treated (trophoblast-derived) HTR-8/SVneo cells for mimicking hypoxic injuries. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), dihydroethidium (DHE) probe, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, migration and invasion assay were employed in the current study. Our data showed that placentas from PE women exhibited increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptotic index than those in normal pregnancy. Our in vitro study showed that CoCl2 enhanced ROS generation and apoptosis in HTR-8/SVneo cells through the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. ACh significantly decreased hypoxia-induced ROS generation and the resulting apoptosis, accompanied by lowered phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB. Western blotting analysis further confirmed that ACh decreased the ratio of pp38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3. Besides, ACh promoted cell invasion and migration ability under hypoxic conditions. Atropine, the muscarinic receptor antagonist, abolished ACh's effects mentioned above. Overall, our data showed that ACh exerted protective effects on hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in trophoblast cells via muscarinic receptors, indicating that improved vagal activity may be of therapeutic value in PE management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China.,Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Gongxiao Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Adoulaye Issotina Zibrila
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yubei Li
- College of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an 710021, China
| | - Jinjun Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Weiyi Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
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Pyridostigmine ameliorates preeclamptic features in pregnant rats by inhibiting tumour necrosis factor-α synthetsis and antagonizing tumour necrosis factor-α-related effects. J Hypertens 2021; 39:1774-1789. [PMID: 34232157 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy marked by an excessive inflammatory response. The anti-inflammatory effect of pyridostigmine (PYR) was previously reported; however, its role in hypertensive pregnancies remains unclear. We hypothesized that PYR could attenuate increased blood pressure and other pathological features in preeclampsia models. METHODS The expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was evaluated in normal and preeclampsia pregnant women. PYR (20 mg/kg) was administered daily to reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) and TNF-α (150 ng/day) infused rats from gestation day 14 to GD19. In a cell culture experiment, the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on TNF-α-stimulated primary human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) was assessed. RESULTS Preeclampsia women had higher placental TNF-α expression than normal pregnant women. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the RUPP group was higher than in the Sham group. PYR inhibited serum and placental acetylcholinesterase activity in rats, and reduced MAP, placental oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation in the RUPP group but not in the Sham group. In addition, PYR significantly attenuated the TNF-α-induced increase in MAP, placental oxidative stress and apoptosis. Moreover, TNF-α decreased cell viability and increased the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei of HUVEC, which could largely be abolished by ACh treatment. CONCLUSION Collectively, PYR ameliorated hypertension and other preeclampsia-like symptoms in rat models of preeclampsia not only by inhibiting the synthesis of TNF-α but also by acting against TNF-α-induced detrimental effects directly, which is worthy of further investigation and may be used as a potential agent for preeclampsia management.
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Ruhnau P, Zaehle T. Transcranial Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) and Ear-EEG: Potential for Closed-Loop Portable Non-invasive Brain Stimulation. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:699473. [PMID: 34194308 PMCID: PMC8236702 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.699473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
No matter how hard we concentrate, our attention fluctuates – a fact that greatly affects our success in completing a current task. Here, we review work from two methods that, in a closed-loop manner, have the potential to ameliorate these fluctuations. Ear-EEG can measure electric brain activity from areas in or around the ear, using small and thus portable hardware. It has been shown to capture the state of attention with high temporal resolution. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) comes with the same advantages (small and light) and critically current research suggests that it is possible to influence ongoing brain activity that has been linked to attention. Following the review of current work on ear-EEG and taVNS we suggest that a combination of the two methods in a closed-loop system could serve as a potential application to modulate attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Ruhnau
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tino Zaehle
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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38
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Muthulingam JA, Hansen TM, Olesen SS, Drewes AM, Frøkjaer JB. Two-Week Cervical Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Chronic Pancreatitis Patients Induces Functional Connectivity Changes of Limbic Structures. Neuromodulation 2021; 25:471-478. [PMID: 35396075 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) has not only shown antinociceptive effects, but also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects. These effects could be beneficial in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients suffering from chronic abdominal pain, even though the underlying central mechanisms remain unclear. The aim was to investigate the effect of cervical nVNS in patients with painful CP on brain functional connectivity and cerebral metabolites. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a randomized double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate functional connectivity changes of limbic structures (seed-based analysis) after two weeks cervical nVNS treatment (GammaCore) as compared with two weeks sham treatment. Similarly, magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) with assessment of glutamate/creatine (Glu/cre) and N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/cre). RESULTS Sixteen CP patients (mean age 56.6 ± 9.4 years) completed the trial. nVNS induced reduced functional connectivity compared to sham treatment between 1) bilateral thalamus and bilateral superior frontal gyrus, 2) ACC and putamen, and 3) posterior cingulate cortex and right thalamus (all p < 0.05). No changes were observed in Glu/cre (p = 0.96) and NAA/cre (p = 0.43) levels between the nVNS and sham treatments. CONCLUSION In our population of CP patients, cervical nVNS compared with sham treatment induced reduced functional connectivity of limbic structures, as also observed in other patient groups. The findings are relevant, since we have previously demonstrated an effect on pain scores in CP patients for both nVNS and sham treatment. Our results elucidate the effects in the central nervous system following nVNS treatment of CP patients, pointing at potential beneficial effects in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janusiya Anajan Muthulingam
- Mech-Sense, Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Tine Maria Hansen
- Mech-Sense, Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Søren Schou Olesen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Centre for Pancreatic Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Asbjørn Mohr Drewes
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.,Centre for Pancreatic Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jens Brøndum Frøkjaer
- Mech-Sense, Department of Radiology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A viable option? PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2021; 264:171-190. [PMID: 34167655 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suffer from a range of cognitive and behavioral problems that severely impair their educational and occupational attainment. ADHD symptoms have been linked to structural and functional changes within and between different brain regions, particularly the prefrontal cortex. At the system level, reduced availability of the neurotransmitters dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) but also γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been repeatedly demonstrated. Recently, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have been explored as treatment alternatives to alter dysfunctional activation patterns in specified brain areas or networks. In the current paper, we introduce transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) as a systemic approach to directly affect NE and GABA neurotransmission. TVNS is a non-drug intervention with low risk and proven efficacy in improving cognitive particularly executive functions. It is easy to apply and therefore well-suited to provide home-based or mobile treatment options allowing a significant increase in treatment intensity and providing easier access to medical care for individuals who are unable to regularly visit a clinician. We describe in detail the underlying mechanisms of tVNS and current fields of application and discuss its potential as an adjuvant treatment for ADHD.
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40
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Suarez-Roca H, Mamoun N, Sigurdson MI, Maixner W. Baroreceptor Modulation of the Cardiovascular System, Pain, Consciousness, and Cognition. Compr Physiol 2021; 11:1373-1423. [PMID: 33577130 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c190038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Baroreceptors are mechanosensitive elements of the peripheral nervous system that maintain cardiovascular homeostasis by coordinating the responses to external and internal environmental stressors. While it is well known that carotid and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors modulate sympathetic vasomotor and parasympathetic cardiac neural autonomic drive, to avoid excessive fluctuations in vascular tone and maintain intravascular volume, there is increasing recognition that baroreceptors also modulate a wide range of non-cardiovascular physiological responses via projections from the nucleus of the solitary tract to regions of the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. These projections regulate pain perception, sleep, consciousness, and cognition. In this article, we summarize the physiology of baroreceptor pathways and responses to baroreceptor activation with an emphasis on the mechanisms influencing cardiovascular function, pain perception, consciousness, and cognition. Understanding baroreceptor-mediated effects on cardiac and extra-cardiac autonomic activities will further our understanding of the pathophysiology of multiple common clinical conditions, such as chronic pain, disorders of consciousness (e.g., abnormalities in sleep-wake), and cognitive impairment, which may result in the identification and implementation of novel treatment modalities. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1373-1423, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heberto Suarez-Roca
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Negmeldeen Mamoun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Martin I Sigurdson
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Landspitali, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - William Maixner
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Rangon CM, Krantic S, Moyse E, Fougère B. The Vagal Autonomic Pathway of COVID-19 at the Crossroad of Alzheimer's Disease and Aging: A Review of Knowledge. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2020; 4:537-551. [PMID: 33532701 PMCID: PMC7835993 DOI: 10.3233/adr-200273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-triggered mortality is significantly higher in older than in younger populations worldwide. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to aging and was recently reported to be among the major risk factors for COVID-19 mortality in older people. The symptomatology of COVID-19 indicates that lethal outcomes of infection rely on neurogenic mechanisms. The present review compiles the available knowledge pointing to the convergence of COVID-19 complications with the mechanisms of autonomic dysfunctions in AD and aging. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is prone to neuroinvasion from the lung along the vagus nerve up to the brainstem autonomic nervous centers involved in the coupling of cardiovascular and respiratory rhythms. The brainstem autonomic network allows SARS-CoV-2 to trigger a neurogenic switch to hypertension and hypoventilation, which may act in synergy with aging- and AD-induced dysautonomias, along with an inflammatory "storm". The lethal outcomes of COVID-19, like in AD and unhealthy aging, likely rely on a critical hypoactivity of the efferent vagus nerve cholinergic pathway, which is involved in lowering cardiovascular pressure and systemic inflammation tone. We further discuss the emerging evidence supporting the use of 1) the non-invasive stimulation of vagus nerve as an additional therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19, and 2) the demonstrated vagal tone index, i.e., heart rate variability, via smartphone-based applications as a non-serological low-cost diagnostic of COVID-19. These two well-known medical approaches are already available and now deserve large-scale testing on human cohorts in the context of both AD and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire-Marie Rangon
- Pain and Neuromodulation Unit, Division of Neurosurgery, Hôpital Fondation Ophtalmologique A. De Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - Slavica Krantic
- Sorbonne Université, St. Antoine Research Center (CRSA), Inserm UMRS-938, Hopital St-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Moyse
- INRAE Centre Val-de-Loire, Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit (PRC, UMR-85), Team ER2, Nouzilly, France
| | - Bertrand Fougère
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Tours University Hospital, Tours, France
- Education, Ethics, Health (EA 7505), Tours University, Tours, France
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Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation: From Concept to Application. Neurosci Bull 2020; 37:853-862. [PMID: 33355897 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Whether in the West or the East, the connection between the ear and the rest of the body has been explored for a long time. Especially in the past century or more, the relevant theoretical and applied research on the ear has greatly promoted the development of ear therapy, and finally the concept of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been proposed. The purpose of taVNS is to treat a disease non-invasively by applying electrical current to the cutaneous receptive field formed by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the outer ear. In the past two decades, taVNS has been a topic of basic, clinical, and transformation research. It has been applied as an alternative to drug treatment for a variety of diseases. Based on the rapid understanding of the application of taVNS to human health and disease, some limitations in the development of this field have also been gradually exposed. Here, we comprehensively review the origin and research status of the field.
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43
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Wang Z, Zibrila AI, Liu S, Zhao G, Li Y, Xu J, Liu D, Li C, Feng W, Liu J. Acetylcholine ameliorated TNF-α-induced primary trophoblast malfunction via muscarinic receptors†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1238-1248. [PMID: 32902620 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress and apoptosis of trophoblasts are involved in preeclampsia (PE). Numerous studies have shown that acetylcholine (ACh), the principal vagal neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in attenuating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in a variety of human diseases. However, the role of ACh in PE management remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of ACh on TNF-α-treated human primary trophoblast cells. Western blotting, CCK-8, DHE, TUNEL immunofluorescence staining, transwell assays, and wound-healing assays were performed to evaluate the role of ACh in vitro. We found that both TNF-α expression and the apoptotic index were higher in placentas from preeclamptic women than in normal placentas. TNF-α enhanced oxidative stress and increased the number of TUNEL-positive nuclei, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 ratio while decreasing cell viability in primary human trophoblast cells. TNF-α promoted cell migration and invasion. PDTC, a selective NF-κB inhibitor, significantly blunted TNF-α-induced effects. ACh treatment attenuated oxidative stress and apoptosis while further promoting migration and invasion of TNF-α-treated primary trophoblast cells. The effects of ACh could be reversed by the muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine. Overall, our findings indicate that ACh significantly ameliorates TNF-α-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis of human primary trophoblast cells via muscarinic receptors. This is the first time that the improvement of vagal activity served as a therapeutic strategy for PE-like trophoblasts, suggesting its potential value in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Adoulaye Issotina Zibrila
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shuhua Liu
- College of Chemistry Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Gongxiao Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yubei Li
- College of Clinical Medicine, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingning Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunfang Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Weiyi Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jinjun Liu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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McIntosh RC, Hoshi R, Nomi JS, Di Bello M, Goodman ZT, Kornfeld S, Uddin LQ, Ottaviani C. Neurovisceral integration in the executive control network: A resting state analysis. Biol Psychol 2020; 157:107986. [PMID: 33137415 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Neurovisceral integration models emphasize the role of frontal lobes in cognitive, behavioral, and emotional regulation. Two candidate hubs for the regulation of cardio-autonomic control, anxiety, and executive attention are the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and middle frontal gyrus (MFG). Two-hundred and seventy-one adults (62.9 % female) aged 18-85 years were selected from the NKI-Rockland Sample. Resting state functional imaging data was preprocessed, and seeds extracted from bilateral DLPFC and MFG to test 4 regression models predicting connectivity with high frequency HRV (HF-HRV), trait anxiety (TA), and reaction time on an executive attention task. After controlling for age, sex, body mass index and head motion, the right DLPFC-MFG seed pair provided strongest support for neurovisceral integration indexed by HF-HRV, low TA and shorter reaction time on the attention network task. This hemispheric effect may underlie the inhibitory role of right PFC in the regulation of cardio-autonomic function, emotion, and executive attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger C McIntosh
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, United States.
| | - Rosangela Hoshi
- University Hospital, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, United States
| | - Maria Di Bello
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Zachary T Goodman
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, United States
| | - Salome Kornfeld
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, United States
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33124, United States
| | - Cristina Ottaviani
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Neuroimaging Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Paciorek A, Skora L. Vagus Nerve Stimulation as a Gateway to Interoception. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1659. [PMID: 32849014 PMCID: PMC7403209 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The last two decades have seen a growing interest in the study of interoception. Interoception can be understood as a hierarchical phenomenon, referring to the body-to-brain communication of internal signals, their sensing, encoding, and representation in the brain, influence on other cognitive and affective processes, and their conscious perception. Interoceptive signals have been notoriously challenging to manipulate in experimental settings. Here, we propose that this can be achieved through electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve (either in an invasive or non-invasive fashion). The vagus nerve is the main pathway for conveying information about the internal condition of the body to the brain. Despite its intrinsic involvement in interoception, surprisingly little research in the field has used Vagus Nerve Stimulation to explicitly modulate bodily signals. Here, we review a range of cognitive, affective and clinical research using Vagus Nerve Stimulation, showing that it can be applied to the study of interoception at each level of its hierarchy. This could have considerable implications for our understanding of the interoceptive dimension of cognition and affect in both health and disease, and lead to development of new therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lina Skora
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.,School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
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Giraudier M, Ventura-Bort C, Weymar M. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) Improves High-Confidence Recognition Memory but Not Emotional Word Processing. Front Psychol 2020; 11:1276. [PMID: 32733306 PMCID: PMC7363946 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous clinical research found that invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) enhanced word recognition memory in epileptic patients, an effect assumed to be related to the activation of brainstem arousal systems. In this study, we applied non-invasive transcutaneous auricular VNS (tVNS) to replicate and extend the previous work. Using a single-blind, randomized, between-subject design, 60 healthy volunteers received active or sham stimulation during a lexical decision task, in which emotional and neutral stimuli were classified as words or non-words. In a subsequent recognition memory task (1 day after stimulation), participants' memory performance on these words and their subjective memory confidence were tested. Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels, a putative indirect measure of central noradrenergic activation, were also measured before and after stimulation. During encoding, pleasant words were more accurately detected than neutral and unpleasant words. However, no tVNS effects were observed on task performance or on overall sAA level changes. tVNS also did not modulate overall recognition memory, which was particularly enhanced for pleasant emotional words. However, when hit rates were split based on confidence ratings reflecting familiarity- and recollection-based memory, higher recollection-based memory performance (irrespective of emotional category) was observed during active stimulation than during sham stimulation. To summarize, we replicated prior findings of enhanced processing and memory for emotional (pleasant) words. Whereas tVNS showed no effects on word processing, subtle effects on recollection-based memory performance emerged, which may indicate that tVNS facilitates hippocampus-mediated consolidation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Giraudier
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Carlos Ventura-Bort
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mathias Weymar
- Department of Biological Psychology and Affective Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
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Neurostimulation techniques to enhance sleep and improve cognition in aging. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 141:104865. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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The Effect of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on P3 Event-Related Potentials during a Bayesian Oddball Task. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10060404. [PMID: 32630571 PMCID: PMC7349824 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10060404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcutaneous auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique associated with possible modulation of norepinephrinergic (NE) activity. NE is suspected to contribute to generation of the P3 event-related potential. Recent evidence has produced equivocal evidence whether taVNS influences the P3 in healthy individuals during oddball tasks. We examined the effect of taVNS on P3 amplitudes using a novel visual Bayesian oddball task, which presented 200 sequences of three stimuli. The three consecutive stimuli in each sequence are labelled Draw 1, Draw 2 and Draw 3. In total, 47 Subjects completed this visual Bayesian oddball task under randomised sham and active taVNS stimulation in parallel with an electroencephalographic (EEG) recording. We conducted exploratory analyses of the effect of taVNS on P3 amplitudes separately for Draws. We found typical oddball effects on P3 amplitudes at Draws 1 and 2, but not Draw 3. At Draw 2, the oddball effect was enhanced during active compared to sham taVNS stimulation. These data provide evidence that taVNS influences parietal P3 amplitudes under specific circumstances. Only P3 amplitudes at Draw 2 were affected, which may relate to closure of Bayesian inference after Draw 2. Our findings seemingly support previously reported links between taVNS and the NE system.
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