'I don't feel Parkinson's symptoms with new implant'

A man who has an implant which counteracts symptoms of Parkinson's says on some days it feels like he "no longer" has the disease.

John Morgan, 51, was diagnosed with Parkinson's at 33 years old after noticing changes in his handwriting and his movements slowing down.

He is the first patient in the UK to see an implant adapt to brain signals in real-time and help suppress symptoms.

Mr Morgan, who is from Bristol and lives in Cardiff, told BBC Radio Bristol the treatment has been "life-changing" and the benefits were "immediate".

The technology was switched on in January at Southmead Hospital when he underwent adaptive Deep Brain Simulation (aDBS).

The implant has technology inside which can work out when Mr Morgan's symptoms are about to show and suppress them, and the wire is inserted between his chest and head.

He told BBC Radio Bristol that on some days it feels like he no longer has Parkinson's, which he described as "incredible".

"They switch it on and they have you walk up and down the corridor, and you can feel the difference. You feel balanced," he said.

The device sends a small electrical signal to the tip of the wires into the brain, and that electricity changes the brainwaves.

Mr Morgan said it is "constantly reading the brainwaves" and "it's like having a mini computer in my body".

He said: "My right arm wouldn't swing before but it does now. It's been life-changing.

"One of my hobbies is fly-fishing and standing in rivers, silly things like that. I can do that now."

He said it has also given him more confidence to carry on working full time.

Mihaela Boca, a consultant neurologist at Southmead Hospital, said the device is "a bit like having a pacemaker in the brain rather than the heart".

"By having this electricity delivered into the brain, you're essentially getting your [condition] treated without having medication," she said.

"We are now in the future, as it were."

More than 150,000 people are thought to be living with the disease which impacts mobility, speech, focus, sleep and independence.

The number is expected to increase due to population growth and ageing.

ADBS treatment is expected to be rolled out this year.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.