Summary
Dr. Kevin Tracey is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and a pioneer of vagus nerve research. Author of "The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes." This episode separates credible vagus nerve interventions from the bogus ones flooding social media.
Key Points
- Which vagus nerve stimulation methods are backed by real science
- How to distinguish credible vagus nerve interventions from marketing hype
- The inflammatory reflex - how the vagus nerve controls inflammation
- Bioelectronic medicine - using electrical stimulation to treat disease
- Clinical applications for autoimmune conditions, arthritis, and inflammatory diseases
- At-home practices that genuinely activate vagal tone
- The future of vagus nerve-based therapies
Key Moments
FDA-approved device to stimulate the vagus nerve for rheumatoid arthritis
Dr. Tracey explains that a medical device to stimulate the vagus nerve for treating rheumatoid arthritis has received FDA approval. The device activates an evolutionarily conserved inflammatory reflex through which the brain can suppress inflammation.
"device to stimulate the vagus nerve to treat rheumatoid arthritis, has received FDA approval."
The discovery of treating inflammation with a device instead of drugs
Dr. Tracey describes how 27 years ago, as a neurosurgeon, he realized that if the vagus nerve naturally turns off inflammation, it should be possible to stimulate those fibers with electrodes and treat inflammation with a device instead of drugs.
"if the vagus nerve is turning off inflammation, then it should be possible to stimulate those fibers in the vagus nerve with electrodes and treat inflammation with a device instead of drugs."
Vagus nerve stimulation for rheumatoid arthritis targets TNF
Dr. Tracey explains the molecular mechanism behind vagus nerve stimulation for rheumatoid arthritis. Monoclonal antibodies against TNF help about half of patients, and vagus nerve stimulation provides a device-based alternative to target the same inflammatory pathway.
"We're going to look at rheumatoid arthritis. That's the condition. What's the molecular mechanism? Well, the early research with using monoconal antibodies against TNF showed that that helps about half the patients."
