Vagus Nerve Stimulator
A recent NBC News article discussed a medical device that is helping people with severe depression get back to their day-to-day lives. The vagus nerve stimulator is surgically attached to the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the body. A national study found that although the device doesn't completely alleviate all symptoms of depression, it does significantly improve overall well-being and sex drive.
Although the FDA approved the device for treating depression in 2015, many health insurance companies, including Medicare, are reluctant to pay for them or the procedure necessary for implanting them. Dr. Charles Conway of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis is hoping his findings will change that.
