A 15-year-old from Hertfordshire has described trying a new wrist device for Tourette's syndrome as "the best day of my life," after years of struggling with severe tics that affected her schooling, sleep, and daily activities.
Katie and her mother Julia travelled from Hertfordshire to Nottingham to test the Neupulse device ahead of its availability. Developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham and its spin-out company Neurotherapeutics Ltd, the wearable gadget delivers electrical pulses to the median nerve at the wrist. University trials have shown that this rhythmic stimulation can alter brain activity related to movement control, reducing both the frequency and intensity of tics.
Tourette's syndrome is an incurable neurodevelopmental condition typically beginning in childhood, affecting more than 300,000 people in the UK. Katie, who began experiencing symptoms at age seven, said the impact of turning the device on for the first time was instantaneous and left her feeling completely calm.
Prof Stephen Jackson, who led the research team, said seeing the technology's positive impact on users has been "a dream come true." The Neupulse-C is currently available as a consumer wellness device, while developers continue through the regulatory approval process for Neupulse-M to be marketed specifically as a medical treatment, with hopes it may eventually be considered for NHS use.
