Gentle nerve stimulation in older adults with atrial fibrillation to test thinking skills
Tests ear nerve stimulation device for thinking problems in people with atrial fibrillation.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Low-frequency Electrical Stimulation for Cognitive Enhancement in Atrial Fibrillation
Key facts
- Where
- Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, RussiaSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 60 and 90 years old?
Source: NCT07063381, who can take part
Where in Russia
- Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular SurgeryMoscow, RussiaNo longer taking part
- Neurodynamics and Cognitive Technologies Research Laboratory of the Neuroscience Research InstituteNizhny Novgorod, RussiaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Bakulev Scientific Center of Cardiovascular Surgery
- Trial code
- NCT07063381
- Record updated
- 8 May 2026
- Original description
Cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is often impaired due to the complex influence of various factors (cerebral hypoperfusion, neurodegeneration, microemboli, hypertension, chronic inflammation). This leads to impairment of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, executive functions, and speed of information processing. The search for affordable and safe methods to maintain or improve cognitive function in this group of people is an urgent task of modern medicine. One of the promising approaches is percutaneous low-frequency electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation - tVNS).Read full original descriptionShow less
Effect of Low-frequency Electrical Stimulation of the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve on Cognitive Function in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Cognitive function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is often impaired due to the complex influence of various factors (cerebral hypoperfusion, neurodegeneration, microemboli, hypertension, chronic inflammation). This leads to impairment of cognitive functions, including attention, memory, executive functions, and speed of information processing. The search for affordable and safe methods to maintain or improve cognitive function in this group of people is an urgent task of modern medicine. One of the promising approaches is percutaneous low-frequency electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation - tVNS).
The auricular (auricular) branch of the vagus nerve is a peripheral branch of the vagus nerve innervating the skin of the auricle in the area of the tragus and the inner part of the external auditory canal. The tVNS engages the sensory fibres of the vagus nerve and thus mimics the sensory input to the brainstem, forming the so-called auriculo-vagal afferent pathway. Since these fibres project directly to the nucleus of the solitary pathway (solitary tract), which, in turn, has direct and indirect projections to the nuclei providing noradrenergic, endorphinergic and serotoninergic fibres in various parts of the brain regulating systemic indices of cardiovascular, respiratory and immunological functions, the organism's response to stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is systemic in nature.
Stimulation of this nerve can modulate central nervous system (CNS) activity, affecting processes related to memory, attention and emotional state. Mechanisms of action of tVNS include modulation of parasympathetic activity, enhancement of neuroplasticity through increased expression of neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF), improvement of cerebral blood circulation, and regulation of neuroinflammation (reduction of proinflammatory cytokines).
Inclusion: Age over 60 years,; Permanent form of AF,; Severe and mild cognitive impairment (<26 points on the MoCA-8 test),; The possibility of regular repeat visits for 6 months.
Exclusion: Expressed sinus bradycardia with resting heart rate < 40 bpm; Any oncological diseases,; Chronic viral infections; Atrioventricular blockade of 2-3 degree,; Severe chronic liver and kidney pathology,.