A practical, science-based look at mild cognitive impairment, memory decline, and treatments that address the brain’s underlying regulatory systems. Most people become concerned when they begin noticing changes in their memory or concentration. Misplacing items more often, forgetting appointments, or struggling to recall names can feel alarming. When this happens, we talk of mild cognitive…
Mood disorders and the problem of regulation When we talk about mood disorders, we typically describe them using emotional terms. Perhaps unsurprisingly, phrases such as anxiety, irritability, loss of interest, low mood, or emotional numbness tend to dominate conversation. For many people, however, these labels feel incomplete and only reflect part of the story. What…
This post is about VNS after stroke and how VNS helps with recovery. VNS is short for vagal nerve stimulation, a form of bioelectric neuromodulation, a nuanced treatment for brain disorders. It’s been around for decades, but recent discoveries mean it no longer requires invasive surgery. We’ve been using the noninvasive form of VNS at…
For decades, neuroscience has shown that depression isn’t just a disorder of mood. Depression is also a disorder of brain structure and function. In particular, we know that depression can lead to shrinkage of the hippocampi in your brain. That’s a concerning piece of information. In fact, this is not a new finding. We have…
Bioelectric Neuromodulation: Vagus Nerve Stimulation Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a form of bioelectric neuromodulation, a way of stimulating the brain to regulate neurophysiology. We’re getting rewarding results using vagus nerve stimulation across a range of conditions, including major depressive disorder. The idea has been around for some decades. In 2005 the FDA approved the…
