Wiring Down the Fire: Dr. Kevin Tracey on Inflammation, Arthritis, and the Vagus Nerve: Inflammation Arthritis

In this expert interview, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Tracey—pioneer of the “inflammatory reflex” and a leading voice on neuroimmune science—to unpack how your nervous system can dial inflammation up or down. We explore what’s really driving inflammatory arthritis, why the vagus nerve is a key switch for immune balance, and how neuromodulation (yes, stimulating nerves!) is opening new, drug-sparing frontiers for pain and flare control. You’ll learn the difference between protective vs. destructive inflammation, practical ways to support vagal tone, and what the latest research means for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. If you’ve wondered how the brain, immune system, and joints talk to each other, this conversation connects the dots—and offers hope.

Kevin J. Tracey, MD, is president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, a pioneer of vagus nerve research and author of The Great Nerve. A leader in the scientific fields of inflammation and neuroscience, his lab studies vagus nerve stimulation and bioelectronic medicine. His contributions include first identifying the therapeutic action of monoclonal anti-TNF antibodies and discovering the specific reflex control of immunity by the nervous system, called the “inflammatory reflex.” These discoveries launched the new scientific field called bioelectronic medicine, which investigates the therapeutic applications of vagus nerve stimulation to cure disease. Dr. Tracey, a neurosurgeon, pursued studies of inflammation after the mysterious death of a toddler from sepsis who was in his care. His lab has since revealed molecular mechanisms of inflammation and identified the use of vagus nerve stimulation to treat it. An inventor on more than 120 U.S. patents and the author of more than 450 scientific publications, he is among the most highly cited scientists in the world. He co-founded the Global Sepsis Alliance, is the author of Fatal Sequence (Dana Press) and is a national and international lecturer.

Check out Dr. Tracey's Ted Talk here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJH9KsMKi5M

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