Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s: Bani’s Journey from London

Bani Reza was born in Malaysia and has lived in London for decades. A retired IT architect who once designed systems for global companies, he found that Parkinson’s disease was slowly taking the ordinary parts of life away from him. The first sign was bradykinesia — movements becoming slower with every attempt. Persistent stiffness in his back caused constant pain, and tremor followed.

“You can’t sleep, you can’t watch TV, and you can’t relax. When you go out for a meal, you want to enjoy time with your family, but you can’t,” Bani says of life before treatment.

After a thorough evaluation at Acibadem, the neurology and neurosurgery teams determined that deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery could help control his symptoms. The procedure was planned by a multidisciplinary team and performed successfully in Istanbul.

After surgery, Bani’s muscle stiffness and slowed movements decreased noticeably. He could move independently again and no longer needed support to walk. “Very, very hopeful and positive. I’m not quite normal yet, but I’m almost there — almost like before I knew what Parkinson’s was,” he said before returning home.

Deep brain stimulation is an established option for selected patients with Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms are no longer well controlled by medication. Whether it is suitable depends on a detailed neurological assessment — request a free specialist review or a second opinion to discuss your case.