Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Ageing
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with ageing? 6 human studies have investigated VNS for ageing, including 2 RCTs, 3 controlled trials, and 1 narrative review, published between 2021 and 2024, with 5 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS) and transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
2 RCTs · 3 controlled trials · 1 narrative review
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 2Randomised controlled trials
- 3Controlled clinical trials
- 1Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 5taVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
5 of 6 studies (83%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
6 studies · strongest evidence firstAge as an Effect Modifier of the Effects of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (taVNS) on Heart Rate Variability in Healthy Subjects
Gianlorenco et al. · Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2024 · n = 44
RCTstaVNSEffect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on delayed neurocognitive recovery in elderly patients
Zhou et al. · Aging Clinical and Experimental Research · 2022 · n = 124
RCTstaVNSEvaluation of Laryngeal Motor Neuropathy Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-Mediated Evoked Potentials
Sadoughi et al. · The Laryngoscope · 2022 · n = 5
controlled trialstaVNSThe role of age-associated autonomic dysfunction in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction
Jiang et al. · GeroScience · 2022
controlled trialstcVNSEffect of aging on vagus somatosensory evoked potentials and ultrasonographic parameters of the vagus nerve
Laucius et al. · Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia · 2021 · n = 20
controlled trialstaVNSImpact of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on healthy cognitive and brain aging
Trifilio et al. · Frontiers in neuroscience · 2023
narrative reviewstaVNS