Comatose Man Regains Quality Of Life Following Electrode Implantation In Brain

A man who lapsed into a coma following a brutal beating and mugging six years ago, has been reawakened by doctors who never gave up hope. With the use of electrodes implanted into his brain neuroscientists were able to stimulate portions of the brain and thereby greatly improving his quality of life.

The man initially did improve to what doctors call a minimally conscious state following the beating but had very limited movement and awareness. His parents who were told he’d stay in a persistent vegetative state told doctors not to resuscitate him if he took a turn for the worst.

However things changed for the 39-year-old man following his selection for a new electrode treatment. According to researchers within hours of receiving what doctors call a pacemaker for the brain, the former comatose victim who had no awareness opened his eyes and followed the movement of people in his hospital room.

Neuroscientists say the research, which has been published in the journal Nature, is exciting and offers hope to other people suffering from traumatic brain injury.

The report challenges the belief that patients in minimally conscious states for prolonged periods are untreatable. Now he can watch movies without falling asleep, play cards, communicate and tell his “mummy” and “pop” he loves them.

In an ABC news report Dr Ali Rezai from the Center for Neurological Restoration at the Cleveland Clinic said the man has made significant improvements:

“He’s able to communicate with his mother and family, he’s able to sit down and play cards, he communicates his wishes and needs, likes and dislikes, he’s able to eat by himself,” he said. Deep brain stimulation has also been used to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy and severe depression. However what makes this case so uncanny is its the first time it is known to have been used on a patient with traumatic brain injury with such miraculous results.

“This is a real landmark,” said neuroscientist Adrian Owen of the Medical Research Council’s Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England, who was not involved in the research. “This suggests a possible treatment for some patients.”

By some estimates there are 100,000 to 300,000 minimally conscious patients in the United States. Most are cared for in long term nursing homes.

Source: AHN