UK womansuffering Parkinson’s diseaseplayed on her clarinet right during brain surgery to help doctors make sure the procedure is successful. A unique incident occurred in King’s College Hospital in London.
65-year-old Denise Bacon from the county Sussex I noticed that immediately after the stimulation began I was able to move my fingers more easily. She was undergoing a procedure deep brain stimulation (DBS)aimed at reducing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – slowness of movement and muscle stiffness.
Since her diagnosis in 2014, the disease has significantly impacted her ability walk, swim, dance and play an instrument. However, the operation restored the woman to some of her previous mobility.
A woman with Parkinson’s Disease who played a clarinet while undergoing brain surgery has told the BBC “it was just amazing” to see and feel her fingers moving “better and faster” during the operation.
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— BBC Sussex (@BBCSussex) October 22, 2025
Music during surgery
The operation lasted about four hours. Led it Professor of Neurosurgery Keyumars Ashkan. The patient remained conscious while doctors inserted electrodes into the brain to stimulate the desired areas.
“We made holes the size of half a coin and set up a coordinate system to precisely direct the electrodes to the desired areas of the brain,” – said Ashkan. He noted that deep brain stimulation is one of the most reliable and long-term methods of controlling the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, reducing tremors, stiffness and slowness of movements.
The patient felt the results immediately
“I felt that my right hand moved much more easily, and I was immediately able to play the clarinet. It was incredible – I felt alive again.” – said Denise. According to her, she has already noticed improvements in her gait and hopes to check soon. will he be able to dance and swim again?.
After the operation she was implanted rechargeable battery in the chest area, the service life of which reaches 20 years. The device monitors brain activity and automatically adjusts the level of stimulation as needed.
Denise Bacon’s story is an example of how music and medicine can team up to give patients back control of their bodies and inspiration for life.
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