The new Tourette's device improving teenagers' lives | BBC News

Summary

The report follows the development of Neupulse, a wristwatch-style device designed to help reduce tics associated with Tourette syndrome. Developed from research led by University of Nottingham professor Stephen Jackson, it sends electrical stimulation to the median nerve at the wrist through gel-pad electrodes. The stimulation is adjusted using an app and is intended to influence brain activity associated with tics. Users can activate it when they want help managing their symptoms.

Demonstrations in the report show users’ movements appearing to lessen after the device is switched on. Several teenagers and families describe it as helpful or life-changing. Their accounts include Katie, who has Tourette syndrome, and Milo, who took part in an earlier clinical trial and tries the finished device. Ollie, who has functional neurological disorder (FND), also says it helps with his neck movements, though the device is being developed as a treatment for Tourette syndrome.

The device is sold as a wellness product for about £500, and thousands have reportedly been sold. Professor Jackson says work is underway to obtain regulatory approval for use as a Tourette’s treatment, with the hope that it may become available through the NHS. The report also notes early trials involving Parkinson’s and possible future applications for OCD and anxiety. It does not present the device as a cure.

Reviews, Guides, or Tutorials

No formal review, guide, or tutorial is included. The report provides a brief product demonstration and first-person accounts from users.

Main Speakers and Sources

• Navtej Johal — BBC News correspondent and reporter
• Professor Stephen Jackson — University of Nottingham researcher
• Teenage users Milo, Katie, and Ollie, and their family members
• A representative of Tourette’s Action