Ohio Conductor Triumphs Over Tremors with Brain Device Magic!

Quick Smiles:

• An Ohio conductor regains control over his tremors with a groundbreaking brain device.
• Rand Laycock’s journey with Parkinson’s sees a new chapter thanks to adaptive deep brain stimulation.
• Innovative technology helps Rand return to leading his 100-piece orchestra.

Rand Laycock, a dedicated music conductor from Ohio, has been on a remarkable journey since his Parkinson’s diagnosis 11 years ago, just before turning 60.

It all began with a twitch in his thumb, which gradually progressed to a tremor in his right hand, especially noticeable when deadlines with his orchestra approached.

Traditional medications were not enough to manage his symptoms, leading Rand to explore deep brain stimulation (DBS) at a renowned medical center.

Last year, he underwent surgery to have stimulation leads and a battery implanted, which has significantly reduced his tremors.

“My tremor is almost all gone, except if I experience extreme anxiety or stress,” Rand shared in a media release.

“And my dyskinesia is pretty well under control.”

Reflecting on his journey, Rand said, “When I was diagnosed 11 years ago, my doctor at the time told me this wasn’t a death sentence, and there would be advancements over the next few years to help with my treatment. And here I am today with adaptive deep brain stimulation – something we didn’t even know about at the time.”

A neurologist involved in his treatment explained that DBS involves implanting a device that delivers electrical currents to specific brain areas controlling movement. This helps modulate the abnormal brain signals caused by Parkinson’s.

Rand initially had operations to insert the stimulation leads and implant the stimulator battery. The device was activated by a programmer who noted, “When it comes to programming the device, we try different settings at first. We then adjust those during follow-up visits as we learn more about how his symptoms are being controlled.”

After a year of success with DBS, Rand discovered adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), an advancement that offers more precise control. While not necessary for everyone with DBS, Rand was an ideal candidate due to his fluctuating symptoms.

“It sounded like it would make my life simpler – not having to worry about adjusting my device settings and medications as frequently,” Rand expressed. The programmer confirmed that aDBS fine-tuning would minimize the risk of tremors during performances if his medication wore off.

In March, Rand began using aDBS, and his tremors have nearly vanished. He eagerly anticipates his 47th year of conducting, saying, “My symptoms are minimal compared to the way they were and a lot of that is due to the adaptive deep brain stimulation.”

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