#ChronicInflammation

As medical science makes remarkable strides in the pursuit of longevity and well-being, the humble vagus nerve — a key neural superhighway connecting brain to body — is gaining new attention as a gateway to better health and potentially longer life. In recent years, scientists, medical professionals, and even wellness gurus have highlighted the vagus nerve’s critical role in controlling inflammation, regulating mood, improving digestion, and more. With rates of chronic disease and inflammation-related conditions on the rise in Thailand and around the world, the latest research into accessible ways to stimulate this nerve is drawing increasing interest.

New research highlights an intriguing pathway to better health and potentially longer life: activating the vagus nerve, a key part of the body’s nervous system. While this idea has circulated among wellness advocates for years, a wave of scientific investigation and commentary from top neuroscientists is bringing new attention—and a hint of cautious optimism—to practices that may stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce chronic, health-threatening inflammation (Business Insider).

Recent months have seen rising interest in the vagus nerve—an anatomical superhighway connecting the brainstem to nearly every organ in the body. Why does this matter for Thai readers? Noninfectious, “diseases of inflammation” such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer now account for three-quarters of deaths worldwide (World Health Organization). In Thailand, this burden is acutely felt as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have overtaken infectious diseases as the leading threat to healthy longevity, mirroring global patterns (Ministry of Public Health). If a nerve in the body plays a key role in controlling inflammation—one of the main drivers behind today’s biggest killers—then learning how to harness its power becomes highly relevant for Thai society.