First Patient with Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Receives Spinal Implant, Restores Mobility
In a groundbreaking medical breakthrough, Marc, a 63-year-old patient from Bordeaux, France, has become the first person with advanced Parkinson’s disease to be fitted with a spinal implant that has restored his ability to walk without falling over. The implant aims to restore normal signaling to the leg muscles from the spine, allowing patients to regain their independence and mobility.
Marc was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over two decades ago and had developed severe mobility problems, including balance impairments and freezing of gait. However, after receiving the spinal implant, Marc experienced what he described as a “rebirth.” He can now walk more normally and has regained his independence.
“I practically could not walk any more without falling frequently, several times a day. In some situations, such as entering a lift, I’d trample on the spot, as though I was frozen there, you might say,” Marc shared. “Right now, I’m not even afraid of the stairs any more. Every Sunday I go to the lake, and I walk around 6 kilometers [3.7 miles]. It’s incredible.”
The spinal implant is yet to undergo full clinical trials. However, the Swiss research team, known for their work in developing brain-machine interfaces for paralysis, believe that their technology could revolutionize the treatment of movement deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Neurosurgeon and professor Jocelyne Bloch, who co-led the work, stated, “It is impressive to see how by electrically stimulating the spinal cord in a targeted manner, in the same way as we have done with paraplegic patients, we can correct walking disorders caused by Parkinson’s disease.”
Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Approximately 90% of patients with advanced illness experience difficulties with walking, including balance deficits and freezing of gait. While conventional treatments like the drug Levodopa can improve symptoms, they are unable to completely restore normal movement. The spinal implant aims to directly target the spinal area responsible for activating leg muscles during walking.
The research team first created a personalized anatomical map of Marc’s spinal cord, identifying precise locations involved in signaling leg movement. Electrodes were then implanted at these locations, enabling direct stimulation of the spine. The patient wears movement sensors on each leg, and when walking is initiated, the implant automatically switches on and delivers pulses of stimulation to the spinal neurons. The goal is to correct abnormal signals from the brain to the legs and restore normal movement.
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, found that the implant significantly improved Marc’s walking and balance deficits. His walking pattern closely resembled that of healthy individuals rather than other Parkinson’s patients. Marc also reported significant improvements in his overall quality of life.
The researchers acknowledge that a full clinical trial is still necessary to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of the spinal implant. They have already enrolled six additional patients to assess whether the apparent benefits can be replicated. “At this stage, it’s a proof of concept,” stated neuroscientist Prof Grégoire Courtine, who co-led the work. “It will be at least five years of development and testing.”
Neurologist Prof Karunesh Ganguly from the University of California San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, commented, “This study describes a new approach for modulating the spinal cord to improve gait in Parkinson’s disease. The treatment can also potentially address freezing of gait, which is currently hard to treat. It will be exciting to see how this generalizes to a larger population of patients.”
The potential for this spinal implant technology to revolutionize the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and improve the lives of millions of patients worldwide is indeed promising.