A study demonstrated that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) effectively reduces daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy. Involving 36 participants, the study found significant improvement in sleepiness scores among patients with narcolepsy after 3 and 6 months of VNS therapy. The treatment’s benefits on sleepiness appear independent of its antidepressant effects and increase over time. About 30% of narcolepsy patients could benefit from this approach. The study calls for further research, including controlled trials, to confirm these results and investigate combined effects with medication; however, the study’s class 3 evidence level, due to lack of blinding and a control group, highlights the need for more rigorous trials. Despite these limitations, VNS shows potential as a supplementary treatment for narcolepsy unresponsive to drug therapy.
Reference: Ciccone I. Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Narcolepsy Shows Improvement in Daytime Sleepiness. Neurology Live. Updated January 15, 2024. Accessed January 23, 2024.
Link: https://www.neurologylive.com/view/vagus-nerve-stimulation-narcolepsy-shows-improvement-daytime-sleepiness
