Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on anxiety and balance under space constraints in Parkinson's disease with anxiety syndrome: A preliminary study.
Yu-Ting Hung, Ruey-Meei Wu, Cheng-Ya Huang
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) on anxiety and dynamic balance in 16 anxious individuals with Parkinson's disease under varying space constraints. The study found that active tVNS significantly reduced tracking error and increased weight-shifting amplitudes compared to sham stimulation in both low and high constraint conditions, indicating potential benefits for managing anxiety and balance in this population.
Key findings
- Active tVNS reduced tracking error under low-constraint (p = 0.002) and high-constraint (p = 0.001) conditions.
- Weight-shifting amplitudes toward the more-affected side were larger with active tVNS in low-constraint (p < 0.001) and high-constraint (p = 0.015) conditions.
- Active tVNS led to lower physiological anxiety levels in low-constraint (p = 0.012) and high-constraint (p < 0.001) conditions.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that tVNS may offer a non-invasive approach to improve balance and reduce anxiety in individuals with Parkinson's disease, particularly in situations where space is limited, potentially enhancing their safety and quality of life.