[ad_1]
Aging is inevitable, but you may be able to slow it down with a new treatment that "tickles" your ear.
Scientists have discovered that two weeks of daily therapy stimulating the inner ear with an electric current could rebalance the autonomic nervous system of people over 55, according to a study published by a team at the University of Leeds this week in the scientific journal Aging.
The autonomic nervous system is vital: it controls many body functions that we have never consciously thought about, such as digestion, breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.
This therapy, called transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS), sends a small, painless electrical current to the ear. This delivers signals along the vagus nerve, which extends from the brainstem to the internal organs. Patients showed improvement in their mood and sleep, as well as other physiological markers.
The study shows how nerve stimulation can rebalance the nervous system to prevent common diseases in the elderly, such as hypertension, heart disease and atrial fibrillation.
The autonomic nervous system has two areas – the sympathetic and the parasympathetic – that work together to keep the body in a healthy balance. However, as we age, body balance changes and the sympathetic system dominates, making us more vulnerable to breakdowns and disease.
Stimulating the vagus nerve reloads the parasympathetic system and brings it back into balance with the sympathetic one.
As you get older, the body's balance changes and the sympathetic system dominates, making it more susceptible to degradation or disease.
"The ear is like a gateway through which we can alter the metabolic balance of the body without resorting to drugs or invasive procedures. We believe these results are just the tip of the iceberg, "said Dr. Beatrice Bretherton, senior author of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds.
Previous studies required the surgical implantation of electrodes to stimulate the vagus nerve. This new treatment rather targets a branch of the nerve that lies at the outer part of the ear and is therefore noninvasive.
The study was conducted on 29 volunteers over the age of 55, the age group most likely to present an imbalance in their autonomic nervous system. The researchers each administered tVNS 15 minutes a day for two weeks. The results showed an increase in parasympathetic activity and a decrease in sympathetic activity, which shows a balance between the two sectors.
"We are excited to further our research into the long-term effects and potential benefits of daily auditory stimulation of the ear, as we have seen so far an excellent response to treatment," added Dr. Bretherton.
Source link
