Non-invasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a contact surface of a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient, wherein the housing
• comprises an energy source;
• transmitting, via the contact surface, an electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of
• the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient;
• and
• modulating the electric current such that the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a
• frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient to inhibit an inflammation and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder.

An apparatus for applying an electric current to a target region within a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, the

• apparatus comprising:
• an enclosure having a contact surface;
• and
• a power source housed within the enclosure, wherein the power source generates an electric current sufficient to transmit an electrical impulse transcutaneously and non-invasively through an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient to a location at or near the target region when the contact surface is positioned against the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate an activity of a selected nerve at or near the target region to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder.