Researchers from UK university Imperial College London have been awarded UK £250,000 to trial surgical implants that could reduce the number of falls in patients with Parkinson’s.
The funding has been awarded by the Medical Research Council – the body responsible for co-ordinating research in the UK.
As part of the trial, the implants will alter nerve activity by sending a low-voltage current to different areas of the spinal cord in five patients living with Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Yen Tai, from the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, said: “Frequent falls are a common and disabling problem in advanced Parkinson’s, and can lead to patient’s being housebound.
“This grant will enable me to work in collaboration with the Brain and Vestibular Group at the College and the Trust, to trial a new treatment that could help improve outcomes for patients and how we deliver care.”