Condition · Evidence Hub
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Prader-Willi Syndrome
Does vagus nerve stimulation help with prader-willi syndrome? 4 human studies have investigated VNS for prader-willi syndrome, including 1 systematic review and 3 controlled trials, published between 2016 and 2024, with 2 published since 2022. Studies use transcutaneous auricular (taVNS), implanted (iVNS), 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.
1 systematic review · 3 controlled trials
Evidence by Tier
strongest → weakest
- 1Systematic reviews & meta-analyses
- 3Controlled clinical trials
Stimulation Method
- 2taVNS
- 1iVNS
- 1tcVNS
Research Momentum
2 of 4 studies (50%) published since 2022 — an actively growing evidence base.
The studies
4 studies · strongest evidence firstNeuromodulation for the treatment of Prader-Willi syndrome - A systematic review
Qiu et al. · Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics · 2024 · n = 47
systematic reviewstcVNSEffects of long-term transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on circadian vagal activity in people with Prader-Willi Syndrome: A case-series
Schmausser et al. · Research in Developmental Disabilities · 2024 · n = 5
controlled trialstaVNSTranscutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (t-VNS): A novel effective treatment for temper outbursts in adults with Prader-Willi Syndrome indicated by results from a non-blind study
Manning et al. · PLoS One · 2019 · n = 5
controlled trialstaVNSNovel insights into maladaptive behaviours in Prader-Willi syndrome: serendipitous findings from an open trial of vagus nerve stimulation
Manning et al. · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · 2016 · n = 3
controlled trialsiVNS