{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nAging is associated with declines in gait performance and autonomic regulation, increasing the risk of functional limitations. Auricular transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention, but its acute effects on gait in older adults remain unclear. This study investigates whether acute tVNS can improve gait performance and autonomic function in healthy community-dwelling older women.Methods\n\nA prospective, randomized, blinded, crossover trial was conducted with 17 healthy older women (≥60-years). Participants received active tVNS (left ear, 25 Hz, 500 μs, 30-min) and sham stimulation (right earlobe), separated by a 24-hour washout period. The primary outcome was the distance covered on the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was assessed as a key secondary outcome.Findings\n\nActive tVNS significantly increased the resting Inter-Beat Interval (IBI, p = 0.008) and reduced heart rate (p = 0.03), indicating enhanced parasympathetic modulation. Sympathetic activity (LF and LF/HF ratio) decreased following active stimulation. Although absolute 6MWT distance did not significantly change (p = 0.07), the predicted walking distance improved significantly with active tVNS compared to sham (p < 0.01; Cohen's d = 0.65; mean difference -7.2%). Other clinical parameters remained unchanged.Interpretation\n\nThis first randomized crossover trial investigating the acute effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in healthy older women demonstrated enhanced parasympathetic modulation and improved performance relative to predicted walking capacity. However, the primary outcome, absolute 6-minute walk distance, did not reach statistical significance. These findings should therefore be considered preliminary and hypothesis-generating, supporting the need for larger trials to determine the long-term clinical relevance of tVNS in older populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Physiology Science Laboratory, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil.",
    "Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA; Laboratory of Neuromodulation and Neurorehabilitation, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil.",
    "Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brazil.",
    "Tropical Medicine Foundation Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brazil. Electronic address: fernandozanela@hotmail.com."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Silvia Ataides Alves Santana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Fernando Zanela da Silva Arêas"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sandy Daniely Alves Santana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Taize Iolanda de Souza Ferreira"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maycon Pelosato Duarte"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Francisdeise Suave Santos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Leila Dutra de Oliveira"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Cassia da Luz Goulart"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Fernando Fonseca de Almeida Val"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Guilherme Peixoto Tinoco Areas"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1xn2fc9p1fe65.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101141",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13675890",
  "id": "1xn2fc9p1fe65",
  "issns": [
    "1807-5932",
    "1980-5322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42837835",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2808|Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220728209",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13675890?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13675890",
  "pmid": "42837835",
  "published": "2026-10-06",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1xn2fc9p1fe65.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:03Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42837835",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42837835"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2808|Vagus Nerve Stimulation Research",
      "subfield": "neurology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on motor function in older adults: a randomized crossover study.",
  "title_text": "Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on motor function in older adults: a randomized crossover study.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:03Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1xn2fc9p1fe65",
  "venue": "Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil)",
  "versions": []
}