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Neurotherapeutics
Published in: Neurotherapeutics 2/2023

01-03-2023 | Mild Neurocognitive Disorder | Original Article

The Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Functional Connectivity Within Semantic and Hippocampal Networks in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Authors: Aidan J. Murphy, Alexandria G. O’Neal, Ronald A. Cohen, Damon G. Lamb, Eric C. Porges, Sarah A. Bottari, Brian Ho, Erin Trifilio, Steven T. DeKosky, Kenneth M. Heilman, John B. Williamson

Published in: Neurotherapeutics | Issue 2/2023

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Abstract

Better treatments are needed to improve cognition and brain health in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) may impact brain networks relevant to AD through multiple mechanisms including, but not limited to, projection to the locus coeruleus, the brain’s primary source of norepinephrine, and reduction in inflammation. Neuropathological data suggest that the locus coeruleus may be an early site of tau pathology in AD. Thus, tVNS may modify the activity of networks that are impaired and progressively deteriorate in patients with MCI and AD. Fifty patients with MCI (28 women) confirmed via diagnostic consensus conference prior to MRI (sources of info: Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test (MOCA), Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR), Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test — Revised (HVLT-R) and medical record review) underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on a Siemens 3 T scanner during tVNS (left tragus, n = 25) or sham control conditions (left ear lobe, n = 25). During unilateral left tVNS, compared with ear lobe stimulation, patients with MCI showed alterations in functional connectivity between regions of the brain that are important in semantic and salience functions including regions of the temporal and parietal lobes. Furthermore, connectivity from hippocampi to several cortical and subcortical clusters of ROIs also demonstrated change with tVNS compared with ear lobe stimulation. In conclusion, tVNS modified the activity of brain networks in which disruption correlates with deterioration in AD. These findings suggest afferent target engagement of tVNS, which carries implications for the development of noninvasive therapeutic intervention in the MCI population.
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Metadata
Title
The Effects of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Functional Connectivity Within Semantic and Hippocampal Networks in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors
Aidan J. Murphy
Alexandria G. O’Neal
Ronald A. Cohen
Damon G. Lamb
Eric C. Porges
Sarah A. Bottari
Brian Ho
Erin Trifilio
Steven T. DeKosky
Kenneth M. Heilman
John B. Williamson
Publication date
01-03-2023
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Neurotherapeutics / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 1933-7213
Electronic ISSN: 1878-7479
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-022-01318-4

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