Vagus nerve stimulation alters task-evoked pupillary responses in older but not younger adults: A single-blind active sham-controlled crossover trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The locus coeruleus (LC) undergoes age-related changes and is involved in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may modulate LC activity and could be used therapeutically, but age-related differences in VNS responses remain unexplored.

Methods

We used a single-blind, sham-controlled, crossover design in 41 participants (21 younger, 20 older adults). Participants completed a visual oddball task with pupillometry during transcutaneous auricular VNS (verum: cymba concha; sham: earlobe) with ≈ 30 minutes of washout between conditions.

Results

Older adults showed smaller baseline pupil diameter but larger normalized task-evoked responses than younger adults a priori. VNS produced age-specific effects: older adults demonstrated increas

SUBMITTER: Riley E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12946818 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature