A Prospect to Ameliorate Affective Symptoms and to Enhance Cognition in Long COVID Using Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation.
J Clin Med
; 12(3)2023 Feb 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2225413
ABSTRACT
Long COVID, the postviral disorder caused by COVID-19, is expected to become one of the leading causes of disability in Europe. The cognitive consequences of long COVID have been described as "brain fog" and characterized by anxiety and depression, and by cognitive deficits. Long COVID is assumed to be a complex condition arising from multiple causes, including persistent brainstem dysfunction and disrupted vagal signaling. We recommend the potential application of auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS) as an ADD-ON instrument to compensate for the cognitive decline and to ameliorate affective symptoms caused by long COVID. This technique enhances vagal signaling by directly activating the nuclei in the brainstem, which are hypoactive in long COVID to enhance mood and to promote attention, memory, and cognitive control-factors affected by long COVID. Considering that atVNS is a non-pharmacological intervention, its ADD-ON to standard pharmaceutical agents will be useful for non-responders, making of this method a suitable tool. Given that atVNS can be employed as an ecological momentary intervention (EMI), we outline the translational advantages of atVNS in the context of accelerating the cognitive and affective recovery from long COVID.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Language:
English
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jcm12031198
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