A nerve-based approach to helping older adults bounce back after surgery

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After surgery, some older adults don't simply recover—they unravel. Confusion, inattention, and agitation can set in, a condition known as postoperative delirium. For patients already living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, the episode can mark a turning point, accelerating long-term cognitive decline. Despite its prevalence, there are no FDA-approved treatments to prevent delirium after surgery.

A new Duke University School of Medicine study suggests an unexpected solution: gently stimulating a nerve that runs from the brain to nearly every organ in the body. The study is published in the journal Bioelectronic Medicine.

A team of researchers discovered that activating the vagus system—a major communication highway linking the brain, immune system, and internal organs—reduced brain inflammation and disruptions in attention and awareness following surgery in mice predisposed to Alzheimer's-like disease.