Non-invasive Nerve Stimulation and Cognitive Training to Improve Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults
Non-invasive Nerve Stimulation and Cognitive Training to Improve Cognitive Performance in Healthy Older Adults
Decline in brain health and associated loss of cognitive function in healthy aging decreases quality of life.We need better tools to both enhance brain health and improve cognitive performance in healthy brain aging so that it can be delayed, reduced, or even reversed. The present proposal is designed to evaluate the pairing of cognitive training with a non-invasive neurostimulation technology that has shown promise in both increasing neuroplasticity and in enhancing cognitive performance, transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS).
Decline in brain health and associated loss of cognitive function in healthy aging decreases quality of life. We need better tools to both enhance brain health and improve cognitive performance in healthy brain aging so that it can be delayed, reduced, or even reversed. Auricular or transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a low cost, easy to use, safe, and non-invasive approach for potentially enhancing brain systems important for cognition, neuroplasticity, and brain health.
The afferent path of the vagus travels through the nucleus of the solitary tract and the locus coeruleus, which both project to the hippocampus, a structure important in encoding new memories. The locus coeruleus is also the brain's primary source of norepinephrine. As the brain ages, there is a significant decline in the number and health of neurons, including in the pathway of the locus coeruleus. The release of norepinephrine in the medial temporal regions including the hippocampus, and the frontal lobes may enhance synaptic plasticity in critical cognitive areas and VNS upregulates norepinephrine.
The present proposal is designed to evaluate the pairing of cognitive training with transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation (tVNS). The investigators have a collaborative relationship with the phase III Augmenting Cognitive Training (ACT) study team, which pairs a different non-invasive approach to brain stimulation (tDCS) with cognitive training. The investigators will leverage the existing ACT infrastructure developed through the support of NIA and the MBRF to evaluate tVNS and a cognitive training program in a two-week intervention with before and after cognition and multi-modal MRI assessments to determine brain function, plasticity, and cognitive modifications resulting from the intervention.
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