Electrical Vestibular Stimulation: A Promising Adjunct Therapy for Adult Insomnia in Hong Kong

Introduction

Insomnia is a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or non-restorative sleep, resulting in impaired daytime functioning. Globally, insomnia affects approximately 10-30% of adults, posing substantial public health challenges due to its impact on quality of life, cognitive function, and overall health. Conventional treatments include pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), yet many patients seek complementary and non-pharmacological interventions due to concerns about medication side effects and accessibility to CBT.

Electrical vestibular stimulation (VeNS) is an emerging neuromodulation technique that delivers low-level electrical currents to the vestibular system, potentially influencing neural circuits involved in sleep regulation. While preliminary studies in Western populations suggest VeNS may improve sleep quality, robust clinical evidence remains limited, particularly within Asian cohorts.