Vesna Marija van Midden

Research, to me, is a natural extension of this state of curiosity, allowing me to explore questions through the lens of scientific methods. Neurology, medicine, and neuroscience remain fields with vast unknowns, offering endless opportunities for exploration.

Vesna Marija van Midden, MD, currently holds a neurology residency at the Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana.

As a neurologist and researcher, she is dedicated to advancing the understanding of neurological disorders and developing innovative treatments to improve patient care. Her primary focus is on Parkinson’s disease, particularly exploring the potential of noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation (taVNS) as a therapeutic option.

Her work highlights the potential of taVNS as an add-on treatment for motor symptoms, particularly in patients who experience limited benefits from standard treatments due to disease progression.

Innovative use of taVNS for gait improvement and quality of life in Parkinson’s disease

The study found that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) significantly improves motor functions such as stride length, gait speed and arm swing velocity in advanced Parkinson’s patients. Using a double-blind, randomized trial, it demonstrated that specific taVNS frequencies can enhance quality of life for patients who respond poorly to standard treatments.

The published research represents an original scientific contribution evaluating a novel therapeutic approach, including the use of taVNS as an add-on treatment for gait in persons with Parkinson's disease. The results obtained, via this randomized placebo-controlled within-subject trial, could be significant for clinical practice related to the treatment of these patients and improvement of their quality of life. Finally, it has to be emphasized that this was the first study assessing the effect of different frequencies of taVNS in Parkinson’s patients in a within-subject trial design.

Driven by curiosity: a passion for medicine and discovery

From an early age, Dr. van Midden exhibited an innate curiosity, finding joy in observing the world and asking thoughtful questions. Research became a natural extension of this curiosity, offering a way to explore complex ideas through scientific methods. Fascinated by the vast unknowns in neurology, medicine, and neuroscience, she is motivated by the pursuit of knowledge and its potential to deepen our understanding of the world.

She chose to pursue a career in medicine by the end of high school, drawn by the intricate complexity of the human body and a genuine desire to contribute to science while improving the lives of others.

For Dr. van Midden, neurology, medicine, and neuroscience are fields full of untapped potential, offering endless opportunities for discovery. Every answer brings us closer to understanding the world, and it is this constant pursuit of knowledge that drives her passion and motivation.