Dr. Kevin J. Tracey, a neurosurgeon and researcher at the Feinstein Institute, delves into the fascinating world of the vagus nerve and its pivotal role in health. He uncovers how stimulating this nerve can reverse inflammation and treat chronic illnesses, transforming patients' lives. Hear inspiring stories of recovery from conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and depression. Dr. Tracey shares practical lifestyle strategies, such as meditation and exercise, to enhance vagus nerve function, opening doors to innovative therapies in neuroimmunology.
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Vagus Nerve's Extensive Role
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body, extending from the brainstem through the neck, chest, and abdomen.
It connects the brain to almost every organ, maintaining vital bodily functions and homeostasis.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovery of Vagus Nerve's Immune Role
Kevin Tracey's lab accidentally discovered the vagus nerve's role in controlling inflammation while testing an anti-inflammatory drug.
Cutting the vagus nerve blocked the anti-inflammatory effect, revealing a brain-immune system signal via the nerve.
insights INSIGHT
Neuro-Immune Circuit Explains Inflammation Control
Vagus nerve signals originate in the brainstem and travel to the spleen, modulating immune cells to reduce inflammation.
This neuro-immune circuit influences inflammation even at distant sites like joints in rheumatoid arthritis.
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The vagus nerve is fundamental to our health and vitality, coordinating critical functions from the precise heartbeat we need to exercise or rest to the balance of appetite and digestion. Made up of 200,000 fibers, the vagus nerve sends thousands of electrical signals every second between your brain and your most important organs. Yet despite its essential role in life, important vagus nerve functions have eluded centuries of scientific investigation. Now neurosurgeon and researcher Dr. Kevin Tracey has discovered the previously unknown power of the vagus nerve to reverse inflammation, balance the immune system, treat chronic illness, and keep our organs humming together in harmony. In The Great Nerve: The New Science of the Vagus Nerve and How to Harness Its Healing Reflexes (Penguin, 2025), Dr. Tracey shows us how stimulating the vagus nerve with a tiny electrical implant has the potential to reverse life-altering diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, MS, diabetes, obesity, stroke, depression, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. If this sounds too good to believe, Dr. Tracey shares stories of patients who have gone from being nearly bedridden to running and dancing, along with the science that makes possible these recoveries. He also explains the evidence for lifestyle strategies like ice baths, meditation, exercise, and breathwork that can maintain and improve vagus nerve function. By opening the door to the new field of neuroimmunology, The Great Nerve not only revolutionizes how we understand and treat disease, it gives us unprecedented hope for our health. This is the story of your body’s ability to heal itself.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.
New Books in Neuroscience 
