Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD)
Methods: This single-center, prospective, and implementation study with before-after design included five participants diagnosed with PD. Auricular VNS was applied to each participant 3 times on different days. VNS was applied to the participants as the right ear, left ear, and bilateral ear. The cardiovascular parameters of the participants were evaluated with Kubios HRV Standard and tremor with UPDRS tremor subscale and smartphone application before and after the intervention
Results: A significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure (p=0.043) was found in participants who underwent bilateral auricular VNS. Although there was no significant change in the UPDRS tremor subscale, decreases in the maximum tremor amplitude in the x (p=0.043) and y (0.014) planes were detected in the measurements made with the smartphone application.
Conclusion: In this study, a decrease in the tremor amplitude measured in the 3D plane with auricular VNS was found in patients with PD.
Authors: Ahmet Kivanc Menekseoglu, Merve Damla Korkmaz, Enes Efe Is, Ceyhun Basoglu, Ali Veysel Ozden
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; tremor; vagus nerve stimulation.
