The Wandering Nerve: Gateway to Boost Alzheimer's Disease Related Cognitive Performance

Exclusion Criteria

• •Prior known diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia
• •Use of investigational drugs or devices within 60 days prior to screening
• •Subjects with contraindications to MRI cannot participate (i.e., implanted metal including pacemakers, cerebral spinal fluid shunts, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants or metal/foreign objects in the eyes and those with a history of claustrophobia)
• •Pregnant.
• •Major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, major affective disorder in mid-life, or treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (Mild depression that is well treated with stable dose of selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants will be allowed).
• •Have a history of major head trauma defined as a loss of consciousness and/or trauma requiring hospitalization
• •Substance abuse within the past 2 years
• •Active hematological, renal, pulmonary, endocrine or hepatic disorders.
• •Evidence of cortical infarcts or strategically placed lacunar infarct (e.g. dorsal medial nucleus of thalamus). MRI evidence of mild white matter signal abnormalities will be allowed.
• •Active cancer, metabolic encephalopathy, infection
• •Active cardiovascular disease, stroke, congestive or severe heart failure
• •Huntington's disease, hydrocephalus or seizure disorder
• •Cataracts, glaucoma, detached retina's, eye surgery involving the muscles; droopy eyelids, penetrating eye wounds and use of anticholinergic eye drop use
• •Weight equal to or greater than 300 lbs (weight limit of the MRI table).
• •Recurrent vaso-vagal syncopal episodes
• •Unilateral or bilateral vagotomy
• •Severe valvular disorder (i.e. prosthetic valve or hemodynamically relevant valvular diseases)
• •Sick sinus syndrome
• •Hypotension due to autonomic dysfunction