Non‑invasive vagus nerve stimulation for veterans with mild traumatic brain injury
Official title: Non-Invasive Vagal Nerve Stimulation in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11239769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work uses a handheld device that stimulates the vagus nerve through the skin to try to ease symptoms in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury, often alongside PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Decatur, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 1, 2020 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003418-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11239769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury, especially those who continue to have cognitive problems, mood symptoms, or PTSD after military service.
✕Less likely to help
People without mTBI or active PTSD, those with more severe traumatic brain injury, or those with contraindicated implanted electrical devices or unstable medical conditions may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
What this research studies
As a veteran with mTBI, I would be given a small, non‑surgical device that delivers brief electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the skin. The team will ask me to use the device on a regular schedule and come in for follow‑up visits to report symptoms, complete cognitive and mood tests, and have safety checks. They may also collect biological measures such as blood markers or brain imaging to see if the treatment changes inflammation, stress responses, or brain function. The research focuses on whether this simpler, lower‑risk approach can help with memory, mood, and daily functioning after combat‑related brain injury.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a non‑surgical, low‑risk option to reduce cognitive and stress‑related symptoms and improve daily functioning for veterans with mTBI and PTSD.
How similar studies have gone: Surgically implanted VNS has proven benefits in epilepsy and depression, and early non‑invasive VNS studies show promising but still mixed results in neurotrauma and stress‑related disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Decatur, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bremner, James Douglas — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Bremner, James Douglas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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This grant studies how mild traumatic brain injury in childhood might influence behavior and the chance of developing addictive behaviors later in life, using twins to understand what’s due to injury versus other factors.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.