Hospital in Guangxi implants BCI brain pacemaker in Parkinson's patient

A 59-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease has been discharged from a hospital in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, after undergoing surgery to implant a brain-computer interface (BCI) device, according to Guangxi Daily.

The patient had lived with Parkinson's for more than seven years and suffered from severe limb tremors, slowed movement, and difficulty performing simple daily tasks. As medications became less effective, her quality of life declined markedly.

On Feb 3, a medical team at the Guangxi Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University implanted a rechargeable, closed-loop neurostimulator, commonly known as a brain pacemaker. The device integrates BCI technology to capture and decode neural signals and adjust stimulation in response to the patient's condition, Guangxi Daily reported.

The surgery was completed without complications. In the early postoperative stage, the patient showed clear improvement. With reduced medication, she is now able to pick up a cup to drink water, which had previously been difficult.

Doctors said the new system differs from traditional deep brain stimulation devices by providing adaptive, feedback-based regulation rather than fixed stimulation. The device will be further optimized after full activation, and additional improvement in motor function is expected, according to the report.

The case marks the first clinical application of BCI-assisted neurostimulator implantation in Guangxi and offers a new treatment option for patients with Parkinson's disease.