Swiss-Designed Spinal Implant Allows Parkinson’s Patient to Walk Again

The first person to get a spinal implant for his severe Parkinson’s disease has hailed the Swiss-designed therapy as “a rebirth” that has enabled him to walk again without stumbling.

The implant hasn’t been evaluated in a thorough clinical study yet. However, the Swiss researchers, who have an extensive initiative to build brain-machine networks for treating paralysis, feel that their technology might provide a completely new way to address movement deficiencies in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Jocelyne Bloch, a physician and educator at the CHUV Lausanne University hospital, who helped conduct the research, expressed admiration for the ability to address walking impairments induced by Parkinson’s disease through precise electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. This approach mirrors the techniques used in the treatment of paraplegic patients.

More About Parkinson’s

• Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the gradual degeneration of dopamine-generating neurons. 
• Walking issues, such as balance problems and gait freezing, manifest themselves in roughly 90% of patients at advanced stages of the illness. 
• Symptoms can be alleviated with standard treatments like the drug Levodopa, but normal movement is unlikely to be completely restored. 

The goal of the implant is to counteract the disease’s symptoms by stimulating the spinal nerves that control the leg muscles while the person is walking.

The group began by creating a unique anatomical outline of Marc’s spinal cord, pinpointing the areas involved in sending signals to his leg. After identifying these points, electrodes were inserted so that stimulation could be sent directly to the spinal cord.

The patient wears a motion sensor on both legs and as they begin walking, the implant seamlessly engages the delivery of rhythmic stimulation pulses to the spinal neurons. The goal is to rectify any irregular signals originating from the brain, traversing down the spinal cord, and reaching the legs, ultimately reinstating the typical motion patterns.

The research, documented in Nature Medicine, reported that the implant yielded enhancements in walking and balance, leading to a walking pattern for Marc that more closely resembled that of individuals without Parkinson’s. Additionally, Marc reported substantial improvement in his overall quality of life.

However, the authors did emphasize the necessity for a comprehensive clinical trial to substantiate the clinical effectiveness of this approach. They have consequently enlisted an additional six patients to check whether the observed advantages can be consistently replicated.