A hospital in the United Kingdom is the first in the world to implant the tiny deep brain stimulation (DBS) device into the brain of a patient with Parkinson's disease, MailOnline reported.
The brain implant works by sending electrical impulses to the damaged part of the brain to trigger neurons to work, overriding the abnormal brain cell firing patterns. The patient who received the implant described his experience as "amazing," given that Parkinson's disease has no cure yet. The implant could prove revolutionary.
A laboratory employee looks at live cells with an electronic microscope at TreeFrog Therapeutics, a cell therapy biotech company working on treatment research for Parkinson's disease in Pessac, on the outskirts of Bordeaux, south-western France, on December 7, 2021.
New Brain Implant Gives First Recipient Improved Quality of Life
Tony Howells is the first person among the 25 patients who received the brain implant as part of the medical trial that will conclude next year, according to BBC News. Mr. Howells had the operation in 2019 when the DBS device was also implanted.
He told the news outlet that before it, he went for a walk on Boxing Day with his wife and got 200 yards (182 meters). But he went to turn around because he could no longer walk.
But 12 months after the operation, he went on Boxing Day again and was able to walk 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) and could have even gone further than that. "It was amazing," he told BBC.
The new DBS device is said to be the smallest brain implant created, which is composed of a tiny battery system. The device is implanted into the skull and delivers electrical impulses to damaged areas of the brain. It takes about three hours to carry out this operation, which is equivalent to half the time it used to with a larger battery.
Mr. Howells recalled his experience with having Parkinson's disease, describing it as frustrating because it prevented him from doing even the most simple task of tying his shoelaces up and affecting his daily life to no end. But with the brain implant, he was able to play golf again and do things he used to do a lot quicker than before.
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About Parkinson's Disease
According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects muscle movements in which symptoms gradually appear. These symptoms may seem barely unnoticeable at first, like the tremors in the hand, rigid muscles, stiffness, or slowing off movement.
In its early stages, the face may show little to no expression, then arms may no longer swing when walking. Also, speech is affected as it becomes soft or slurred. These symptoms will worsen as the condition progresses over time.
Parkinson's disease occurs when certain neurons gradually break down or die, especially those neurons that are responsible for dopamine production. A decrease in dopamine causes abnormal brain activity that impairs movement and other symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Although there is no known cause of the disease, several risk factors appear to play a role. These factors include genes, exposure to toxins, presence of Lewy bodies, age, and sex.
For now, there is no cure as well for the disease. But medications could improve symptoms and sometimes doctors recommend surgery to regulate certain brain regions and improve symptoms.
RELATED ARTICLE: Neurodegenerative Patient Stands and Walks After Being Bedridden 18 Months with Spinal Cord Implant
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