Discussion
amnestic MCI
RECRUITMENT
There are limited published studies investigating the efficacy of tVNS in cognition [This study has the following strengths. Participants undergo repeated assessments at three time points which will support reliable inference of any effects at statistical analysis. There is also no age limit on this study’s eligibility criteria which is important, as upper age limits in particular have historically excluded older adults from many interventional trials thus limiting generalisability of results. Limitations of this study include planned recruitment of participants from a clinical population to repeated assessments in a clinical research setting which may be challenging in an older cohort with other medical or lifestyle commitments.In this pilot intervention study we aim to generate clinical, digital and laboratory data to assess to safety, tolerability and potential efficacy for tVNS in a population with amnestic MCI. Further outcomes will include metrics to design future definitive intervention studies, and explore the associations between vagally-mediated neurocardiovascular, inflammatory and cognitive function in this population.