University of Virginia Health System researchers in Charlottesville, Va., found preliminary evidence that low-intensity focused ultrasound and vagus nerve stimulation could help reduce drug and alcohol cravings for individuals with substance use disorder.
Researchers at the UVA Center for Neuromodulation Research reviewed existing research on the two approaches, according to a Sept. 2 news release from the system. Focused ultrasound uses targeted sound waves to influence brain activity in regions involved in reward, motivation and addiction, while vagus nerve stimulation targets a cranial nerve involved in the brain’s response to stress.
Vagus nerve stimulation dates back to the late 1800s, but the FDA didn’t approve an implantable version until 1997, when it was cleared to treat medication-resistant epilepsy. Physicians later noticed mood improvements in recipients, leading to FDA approval of the device for treatment-resistant depression in 2005. Implantable stimulators can be costly and require surgery, so researchers have since developed noninvasive alternatives that stimulate the nerve through the ear or neck; one such device is already FDA-approved for opioid withdrawal symptoms.
The focused ultrasound approach under study uses low-intensity sound waves to influence brain activity without damaging tissue. This is distinct from the high-intensity focused ultrasound UVA has helped pioneer for treating Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor, which uses thermal energy to remove tissue.
The researchers said larger studies are needed to determine how the techniques could complement existing substance use treatments. The center’s first vagus nerve stimulation study is set to begin recruiting this fall, and focused ultrasound studies are projected to begin in early 2027.
The center has secured more than $200,000 in funding since James Mahoney, PhD, and Daisy Thompson-Lake, PhD, founded it a year ago. The researchers published their findings in Drug and Alcohol Dependence and Biological Psychiatry.
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