Targeting the vagus nerve has shown medical promise for a range of health conditions Science Photo Library/Alamy The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vagus nerve stimulator for rheumatoid arthritis – the first such device to be cleared for an autoimmune condition, potentially paving the way for broader uses. The pill-sized device … Read more
A nerve cell (stained green) growing among a cancer cell culture Simon Grelet and Gustavo Ayala Cancer cells steal energy-generating parts from nerve cells to fuel their spread to distant sites, a discovery that could improve treatments against the deadliest tumours. “This is the first time that mitochondrial exchange has been demonstrated from nerves to … Read more
Targeting the vagus nerve has shown potential in treating a range of health conditions Science Photo Library/Alamy Pairing targeted vagus nerve stimulation with physical therapy seems to help people who are partially paralysed from spinal cord injuries regain the ability to perform some everyday activities, like putting on a necklace or doing up a zipper. … Read more
Social media is full of posts claiming ice baths enhance vagal function Uldis Laganovsky/Alamy The Great NerveKevin Tracey (Penguin on sale 13 May (US); 15 May (UK)) As a health reporter, I constantly come across promising new medical treatments. Many are exciting, but few have intrigued me as much as vagus nerve stimulation. To understand … Read more
A microscopic image of a neuroblastoma tumour Simon Belcher/Alamy A cancer therapy that uses genetically engineered immune cells, called CAR T-cells, has kept a person free of a potentially fatal nerve tumour for a record-breaking 18 years. “This is, to my knowledge, the longest-lasting complete remission in a patient who received CAR T-cell therapy,” says … Read more
