Scientists at the Mayo Clinic have explained how vagus nerve stimulation can help some patients recover faster after a stroke. The message was published on the clinic’s website.
After a stroke, many people require speech, physical, or occupational therapy. A vagus nerve stimulating device, also used to treat epilepsy, can help some patients regain arm strength months or years after a stroke.
“We study this therapy in patients who are in this chronic stage of stroke recovery. Almost half of these patients were able to achieve a very significant improvement in their motor strength,” the scientists said.
If a patient is having trouble using their hand or arm after a stroke, this vagus nerve stimulation device helps create new neural pathways in the brain and restore hand function faster than standard rehabilitation.
Researchers are also exploring the potential benefits of treating rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, bipolar disorder, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease with the device.