Ear zap may tame stroke inflammation

This study tested whether a mild electrical stimulation of a nerve in the ear (called taVNS) could reduce inflammation and improve recovery in 40 adults who had a severe ischemic stroke. Participants received either standard care or standard care plus the ear stimulation. The main goal was to see if the stimulation lowered certain markers of inflammation in the blood over the first 5 days. This is an early-stage pilot study, so it helps researchers understand if this approach is worth testing in larger trials.