Improved olfactory function following high-frequency transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation in post-COVID-19 patients with olfactory dysfunction.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Previous studies in healthy individuals showed that high-frequency but not the low frequency non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation improves olfactory function in healthy individuals. The present study aimed to analyze the potential effects of non-invasive, high-frequency transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation (TA-VNS) on olfactory function in patients with olfactory dysfunction (OD) and healthy individuals.

Methods

Patients with post-COVID-19 associated OD (n = 10) and normosmic individuals (n = 30) performed olfactory testing (Sniffin` Sticks), trigeminal testing (lateralization test), attentional tests (d2 test), ratings of odor intensity and pleasantness before and after receiving a TA-VNS for 10 min. Patients with OD received only TA-VNS while normosmic

SUBMITTER: Weise S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12680794 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature