Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Promote Improved Hand Movement in Multiple Sclerosis
We want to learn how stimulating the vagus nerve while moving the hand can help improve fine motor control in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), who have trouble moving their hands and arms.
Why this Research Matters
We are asking people with relapsing-remitting MS who have mild dysfunction in their arms and hands due to MS to join a study about how stimulating a key nerve in your body may improve hand and arm movement. If you join this study, you will be randomly put into one of two groups. This means you won’t get to choose your group. It’s like flipping a coin. The first group will get a type of stimulation that may help hand and arm function. The second group will get a different type of stimulation that is not expected to help hand and arm function. This study is not for treating any type of MS.
You will first come in for a visit to sign the consent form and see if you qualify for the study. If you qualify, you will then come in three times a week for four weeks to get about 30 minutes of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation while doing a hand movement task. After that, you will have follow-up visits at months 2, 3, and 6 of the study. We will also check your movement skills and have you fill out surveys about how MS affects your daily life at different points in the study (months 0, 1, 2, 3, and 6) to see if there are any changes over time.
You will be in the study for about 6 months.
You may be able to join the study if you:
- Have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
- Have mild dysfunction in hand and arm affecting mobility and/or dexterity
- Do not have other major brain conditions like epilepsy, serious head injuries, or central nervous system diseases
More information available at ClinicalTrials.gov:
NCT06641271
You will get up to $275 if you complete all study visits.
