Study to Investigate Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Augment Executive Function in Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Populations

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Parkinsons Disease (PD), Healthy Adult

In brief

This study plans to learn more about how stimulating the vagus nerve through gentle electrical stimulation applied to the ear can affect decision-making, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. This process, called transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), could help improve brain function in both healthy individuals and people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07424365

Run by

University of Colorado, Denver

People needed

80

Starts

2025-05-19

Expected to finish

2028-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Individuals aged 18-65.
• Ability to sign informed consent.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• For the PD group, a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease without severe motor or cognitive impairments.

You may not qualify if…

• Current uncontrolled and/or clinically significant medical condition.
• Abnormal ear anatomy or active ear infection.
• Electronic medical implants, such as pacemakers, cochlear prosthesis, neuro-stimulators.
• Uncorrected visual impairments that would interfere with task performance.
• (6) Other significant diseases or disorders that might impair study participation.

Where it is running

• Clinical Translational Research Center at CU Anschutz — Aurora, Colorado, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.