BBC North East & Cumbria health correspondent
BBCA man fitted with a pioneering, computer-controlled brain implant to tackle his Parkinson’s disease says it works so well he is sometimes able to forget he has the condition.
A small computer inserted into Kevin Hill’s chest wall 12 months ago is connected to wires running into the brain which can send electrical signals and an update means it can now read his brain activity.
The 65-year-old from Sunderland said it has been so successful he feels like he has “been cured”.
Surgeons in Newcastle hope an adapted version of the deep brain stimulation system will have a “huge impact” on the quality of life of patients with the disease.
Mr Hill said: “I forget about Parkinson’s for days and days and days.”
Kitchen ban
Warning – contains a distressing image
He began getting symptoms, including trembling in his thumb, in his 40s and started suffering nightmares and insomnia.
He was banned by his wife from going into the kitchen because his hand shook so much he spilled or dropped hot drinks and even cut the end of his finger off.
In 2017 he visited his GP and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
He was told there were medicines but no cure, but there was a new treatment – deep brain stimulation (DBS) – and tests proved he was suitable for the surgery.
It involved an implant that runs deep into the brain to an area the size of a grain of rice.
NEWCASTLE HOSPITALSThe computer in his chest is connected to two thin wires that thread up the back of his neck.
It carries the electrical messages that can manage his Parkinson’s symptoms.
Mr Hill described the computer as the size and shape of “a Jaffa Cake”.
When it was switched on after surgery he said the impact was dramatic.
After years of sleepless nights, and being unable to manage the uncontrollable shaking of his arm and leg, his tremors “stopped instantly”.
Mr Hill said he stared at his still hand and “couldn’t believe it”. His wife burst into tears.
The life he once knew came back, meaning he was able to go to the pub and see his friends again.
He bought a bike and was even allowed back into the kitchen.
KEVIN HILLFor the last year he has had to go to hospital regularly to have his system re-programmed to better control his symptoms.
Now, a new updated version called “adaptive deep brain stimulation” has been designed to re-programme the system in real time.
It can also read a patient’s brain signals which doctors say should mean even better control of symptoms.
NEWCASTLE HOSPITALS NHS TRUSTAkbar Hussain, a neurosurgeon at Newcastle Hospitals, is one of the first doctors in the world to offer the new adaptive Brainsense treatment, developed by Medtronic.
He said: “The amazing thing about the adaptive version is that the electrical impulses provided to the brain by the device are controlled and adjusted automatically, according to individual patient’s recordings from the device in their chest.
“The biological signals generated within the person themselves are enough to alter the treatment given by the implant.
“These changes could be taking place by the minute or hour, meaning the treatment is truly responsive to the exact needs of each individual.
“It’s exciting. Hopefully this will have a huge impact and be very significant for the patients’ quality of life.”
Dr Becky Jones, from the charity Parkinson’s UK, said: “Current DBS can be life changing and has the promise to be even more effective if it could be responsive to the needs of the individual. Brainsense represents a major step towards this.
“While evidence is still being gathered to assess the benefits of adaptive DBS versus the standard type, it’s great to see movement towards this becoming a new, more effective treatment for people with Parkinson’s.”
About 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder affecting the brain and nervous system.
The number is expected to increase due to population growth and ageing.
Meet John, a 58-year-old Parkinson’s patient from Sunderland who has been living with the debilitating symptoms of the disease for the past 10 years. But thanks to a new wearable device, John says he feels “cured” and is finally able to live a normal life again.
The device, called the Neurosense, uses advanced technology to deliver targeted stimulation to the brain, effectively reducing the tremors and stiffness that are common symptoms of Parkinson’s. John says that since he started using the device, he has seen a significant improvement in his symptoms and is now able to do things he never thought possible, like going for long walks and playing with his grandchildren.
“I can’t believe the difference this device has made in my life,” says John. “I feel like a new man, like I’ve been given a second chance. I no longer have to rely on medication to manage my symptoms, and I can finally enjoy the things I love without being held back by Parkinson’s.”
John’s story is just one example of the transformative power of new technology in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. With more research and innovation in this field, we can hope to see more patients like John experience the same sense of relief and freedom from their symptoms.
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