Improving the lives of people with Tourettes
Tourette syndrome is an inherited neurological condition that affects around 1% of people causing them to make involuntary sounds and movements called tics. There is no cure for Tourettes but a team at the University of Nottingham have developed a therapy based on applying mild electrical stimulation in rhythmic patterns to the median nerve in the wrist which helps dramatically reduce the frequency of tics and the urge to tic.
KD supported the University of Nottingham and Neurotherapeutics Ltd to develop a prototype wearable device, similar to a smartwatch, which can deliver the electrical stimulation in a convenient and discreet way. KD worked closely with the Nottingham team to translate the stimulation patterns established in previous lab testing into a stand-alone wearable device that could be used in a more extensive clinical study. The device is designed to be simple to use for study participants.
KD developed the device design and built the prototypes for the clinical study in our labs.
We were frequently told that what was really needed was a safe and effective non-drug treatment for tic disorder that could be used outside of the clinic and would give individuals control over their tics. This led directly to us focusing on the use of peripheral nerve stimulation as a means of bringing about changes in the brain networks associated with the production of tics.
Professor Stephen Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham and Founding Director of Neurotherapeutics Ltd
The study, being conducted with the support of charity Tourettes Action, aims to provide evidence of the beneficial effects of median nerve stimulation for reducing tics. The study will include home administration and will investigate any benefits of daily stimulation sessions.
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