Parkinson\u2019s disease is a debilitating neurological condition that affects movement, causing tremors, stiffness and freezing episodes that can leave patients unable to move.<\/p>\n
About 50 Australians are diagnosed every day and more than 150,000 people nationwide live with the condition.<\/p>\n
Doctors at St Vincent\u2019s Hospital say the new therapy could transform how symptoms are managed.<\/p>\n
While deep brain stimulation has existed for years, this new version is designed to automatically respond to a patient\u2019s brain activity.<\/p>\n
\u2018We implant electrodes into a patient\u2019s brain\u2019<\/p>\n
St Vincent\u2019s neurologist Dr Joel Maamery explained the system works by implanting electrodes in a specific part of the brain that controls movement.<\/p>\n
The electrodes are connected to a battery device implanted in the chest, similar to a heart pacemaker.<\/p>\n
Small electrical pulses are delivered through tiny contacts at the tip of the electrode, altering the brain activity responsible for symptoms.<\/p>\n
Unlike traditional systems that deliver constant stimulation, the adaptive version continuously reads brain signals and adjusts the stimulation automatically.<\/p>\n
![\"Electrodes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7e50e4a8c5461199b28b323fd8661b60f4d685de.jpg\")
Electrodes are implanted into a patient\u2019s brain to send small electrical pulses that alter the brain activity responsible for symptoms. Credit: 7NEWS![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6ee53a02295150b2e4bd93b9f8a738caa50e0ff8.jpg\")
The electrodes are connected to a battery device implanted in the chest, similar to a heart pacemaker. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n
\u201cI think of it as the next generation of brain stimulation,\u201d Maamery said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdaptive stimulation allows us to sense the abnormal signals within the brain and the device actually increases its own output in real time to provide therapy for that patient at that time.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says the technology represents a significant advance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real breakthrough,\u201d he told 7NEWS exclusively.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been available in the US<\/a> and Europe<\/a> for the last 12 months and we\u2019ve recently had approval to use it in our patients in Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really is a wonderful step and a new option for treatment for people who struggle with this condition for such a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018It was agony\u2019<\/p>\n The treatment is not a cure, but doctors hope it will smooth out the daily fluctuations many patients experience when medication wears off.<\/p>\n For Grkovic, a professional actor, those fluctuations once made everyday life extremely difficult.<\/p>\n Just six months ago, he was struggling to move, his muscles froze. He could barely walk and relied heavily on medication.<\/p>\n \u201cI had this dystonia in my feet where it would all cramp and curl,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was agony.<\/p>\n \u201cI had this debilitating anxiety that was all through my body that was incredibly painful.<\/p>\n \u201cI had these periods of freezing when I was stuck on the floor and I just couldn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was definitely a lot of fear around how am I going to survive or get through the day basically.\u201d<\/p>\n Grkovic was diagnosed about 10 years ago after noticing tremors while performing on stage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first five years it was manageable because the medication seemed to control the symptoms,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd then five years ago, all the symptoms seemed to come on all at once really badly.\u201d<\/p>\n Deep brain stimulation surgery earlier this year already helped his daily life. He can now walk unassisted and has far fewer periods where his symptoms take over.<\/p>\n The adaptive upgrade could take that progress even further.<\/p>\n \u201cThe good thing about the new technology is because it can detect when I need more stimulation, it\u2019ll self-regulate,\u201d Grkovic said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will iron out those off periods that I might be having when the medication runs out and make me feel just on all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, doctors say the effects will take time to assess as the device learns his brain signals.<\/p>\n \u201cThis really is the next step along the journey as we learn more about the brain and what treatments we can provide for our patients,\u201d Maamery said.<\/p>\n Researchers in America are also exploring whether similar technology could one day help treat other neurological conditions including epilepsy and depression.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t the end of the road, this is part of the journey or the next step along the journey as we learn more about the brain, how it functions and what treatments we can provide for our patients across a range of different conditions to give them optimal symptom relief,\u201d Maamery said.<\/p>\n For Grkovic, the future suddenly looks far brighter.<\/p>\n The former performer, once a familiar face on Australian television with credits including Home and Away and iconic advertisements, hopes he may even return to the screen soon.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully if all goes well and if I\u2019m up to it go back to performing again which would be really good,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pedestrian dies after being struck by car in Queensland<\/p>\n 0 min read<\/p>\n![\"Walter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/f2e9fc3e8f7e5d2c5998428aa8272572703febcc.jpg\")
Walter Grkovic has become the first patient in Australia to receive adaptive deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson\u2019s disease. Credit: 7NEWS![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/b54e83501c915de82c1c9b150350985a777977ed.jpg\")
The adaptive system continuously reads brain signals and adjusts the stimulation automatically. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n