Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the benefits of stimulating peripheral nerves for enhancing immunity. The nervous system and the immune system are highly connected; therefore, each system can affect the other’s function. The nervous system controls immune cells by either stimulation of organs that produce those cells or the cells themselves. This helps the brain play a role in clearance of infection and autoimmunity. At the same time, if the brain is in a poor state due to chronic stress and other environmental triggers, inflammation can occur leading to chronic infections and autoimmunity. This results in a vicious cycle that includes a poorly functioning brain and immune system. Stimulating the brain through peripheral nerves can help reset some brain areas and offer better control over the immune system. Check out the video for more in depth information on how nerve stimulation affects immunity!
Falvey A, Metz CN, Tracey KJ, Pavlov VA. Peripheral nerve stimulation and immunity: the expanding opportunities for providing mechanistic insight and therapeutic intervention. Int Immunol. 2022;34(2):107-118.
