Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with parkinson's disease? 18 human studies have investigated VNS for parkinson's disease, including 6 systematic reviews, 4 RCTs, and 6 controlled trials, published between 2019 and 2026, with 16 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), transcutaneous cervical (tcVNS), and implanted (iVNS) stimulation. Findings vary by study design and population; the studies below are ranked by evidence strength so you can weigh the research directly.
6 systematic reviews · 4 RCTs · 6 controlled trials · 2 narrative reviews
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 6Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 4Randomised controlled trials
- 6Controlled clinical trials
- 2Narrative & scoping reviews
Stimulation Method
- 12taVNS
- 4tcVNS
- 2iVNS
Research Momentum
16 of 18 studies (89%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
18 studies · strongest evidence firstNoninvasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review
Eissazade et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2025 · n = 287
systematic reviewsiVNSEffectiveness of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation in Parkinson's disease: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
Abouelmagd et al. · Journal of Clinical Neuroscience · 2025 · n = 217
systematic reviewstcVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in healthy individuals, stroke, and Parkinson's disease: a narrative review of safety, parameters, and efficacy
Matsuoka et al. · Frontiers in physiology · 2025
systematic reviewstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation in Movement Disorders, from Principles to a Systematic Review of Evidence
Proietti et al. · Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2025
systematic reviewstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Shan et al. · Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024
systematic reviewstaVNSVagus nerve ultrasonography in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Abdelnaby et al. · Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical · 2021
systematic reviewstaVNSHome-based transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) improves motor and non-motor symptoms by improving autonomic and brain functions in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomized clinical trial
Wang et al. · Neurotherapeutics · 2026 · n = 41
RCTstaVNSFeasibility, safety and efficacy of multi-dose vagus nerve stimulation in Parkinson's disease: a double-blind, randomised sham-controlled proof-of-concept study
Sigurdsson et al. · Journal of Neurology · 2025 · n = 33
RCTstcVNSThe Effect of taVNS at 25 Hz and 100 Hz on Parkinson's Disease Gait-A Randomized Motion Sensor Study
van Midden et al. · Movement Disorders · 2024 · n = 30
RCTstaVNSTranscutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation improves gait and cortical activity in Parkinson's disease: A pilot randomized study
Zhang et al. · CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2023
RCTstaVNSAuricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Combined with Physical Therapy for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
Evancho et al. · Neurology International · 2026 · n = 22
controlled trialstaVNSImmediate modulatory effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on patients with Parkinson's disease: a crossover self-controlled fMRI study
Fu et al. · Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSLeft Vagus Stimulation Modulates Contralateral Subthalamic β Power Improving the Gait in Parkinson's Disease
Marano et al. · Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society · 2024
controlled trialstaVNSVagus Nerve Stimulation Modulates Phase-Amplitude Coupling in Thalamic Local Field Potentials
Warsi et al. · Neuromodulation : journal of the International Neuromodulation Society · 2023
controlled trialstaVNSNon-invasive vagus nerve stimulation modulates subthalamic beta activity in Parkinson's disease
Torrecillos et al. · Brain stimulation · 2022
controlled trialsiVNSNoninvasive vagus nerve stimulation improves gait and reduces freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease
Mondal et al. · Movement Disorders · 2019 · n = 19
controlled trialstcVNSVagus nerve stimulation in Parkinson's disease: a scoping review of animal studies and human subjects research
Evancho et al. · NPJ Parkinson's disease · 2024
narrative reviewstaVNSNeuromodulation techniques - From non-invasive brain stimulation to deep brain stimulation
Davidson et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2024
narrative reviewstcVNS
Registered trials — results pending
1 registered protocol with no published results yet. Listed for context; not counted in the evidence total.
Safety and tolerability of adjunct non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation in people with parkinson's: a study protocol
Sigurdsson et al. · 2023 · protocol