WATCH: Woman with Parkinson’s plays clarinet during brain surgery to ease symptoms

Tasleem Gierdien

Tasleem Gierdien

22 October 2025 | 16:20

Electrodes were implanted into the woman’s brain while she remained awake throughout the surgery.

WATCH: Woman with Parkinson’s plays clarinet during brain surgery to ease symptoms

Picture: Pexels/Arash Iyone 12411911

Denise Bacon, a 65-year-old woman from England living with Parkinson’s disease, played the clarinet while she was wide awake during brain surgery, to help doctors assess the immediate effects of the procedure.

Diagnosed in 2014, Bacon – a retired speech and language therapist – had been experiencing increasing slowness of movement and muscle stiffness that affected her daily activities, including walking, swimming, and playing her beloved clarinet.

In July, during a four-hour operation at King’s College Hospital in London, Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, a leading neurosurgeon, performed deep brain stimulation (DBS), a procedure used for patients with movement disorders like Parkinson’s that don’t respond well to medication.

Electrodes were implanted into Bacon’s brain while she remained awake and played the clarinet throughout the surgery.

According to the hospital, the impact was immediate: “The movement in Denise’s fingers improved instantly, allowing her to play the clarinet with much greater ease.” Professor Ashkan explained, “It was suggested that Denise bring her clarinet into the operating theatre to test whether the procedure would improve her playing, one of her main goals. We were thrilled to witness an instant improvement in her hand coordination as soon as the stimulation began.”

The surgery not only offered a unique approach to real-time assessment, but also marked a personal milestone for Bacon, restoring one of the activities she cherishes most.

Watch the moment below:

Trending News