Central China's First! Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital's BCI Surgery Brings New Life to Parkinson's Patient

Background

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. Core motor symptoms include tremor, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and impaired balance and coordination. Over time, particularly after more than a decade of disease progression, the effectiveness of standard oral medications often declines, resulting in worsening symptoms that severely limit basic daily activities such as walking, self-care, and independent living.

What was achieved

On January 22, 2026, the functional neurosurgery team at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University performed Central China's first implantation of a brain-computer interface (BCI) closed-loop neurostimulator on a 70-year-old patient with Parkinson's disease for over 10 years. The patient had experienced progressively declining response to drug therapy, with intensification of tremor, limb stiffness, slowed movement, and major impacts on quality of life. The procedure was guided by Professors Yan Dongming and Liu Xianzhi, with Professor Ji Yuchen, director of the functional neurosurgery ward, serving as the lead surgeon in collaboration with teams from neurology, anesthesiology, and the operating department.

Using high-precision image fusion technology, stereotactic navigation, and intraoperative microelectrode recording for real-time verification and imaging review, the team implanted 8-channel directional electrodes precisely into the bilateral subthalamic nuclei (STN). Placement accuracy reached the sub-millimeter level. The patient emerged with stable vital signs, no neurological complications, and entered a phase of rehabilitation training and stimulation parameter optimization. Sources described the case as filling a regional gap in intelligent neuromodulation and indicating an advanced level in precise neuromodulation and BCI clinical application in Henan Province.

How it works

In Parkinson's disease, abnormal electrical activity in brain circuits, particularly involving the subthalamic nucleus, contributes to motor symptoms. Traditional deep brain stimulation (DBS), often called a brain pacemaker, involves surgically implanting electrodes connected to an implanted pulse generator that delivers electrical stimulation to modulate these circuits. Conventional systems operate in an open-loop manner, providing continuous stimulation based on fixed parameters set by clinicians.

The BCI closed-loop neurostimulator represents an advancement. The 8-channel directional electrodes can both deliver targeted stimulation and sense the brain's local field potentials—real-time electrical signals linked to Parkinsonian symptoms. The system dynamically detects abnormal brain activity and automatically adjusts stimulation parameters to provide individualized, on-demand control. Directional technology allows current to be steered more precisely toward intended areas while minimizing spread to adjacent tissue that could cause side effects.

Additional features include a rechargeable battery that extends device lifespan and reduces the frequency of replacement surgeries, as well as support for remote visualization-based programming. This enables more convenient follow-up, potentially lowering the burden of repeated in-person visits for parameter tuning.

What it means for international patients

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University operates an International Medical Department at its Zhengdong campus, established in 2019. This department provides high-end, personalized services for international and VIP patients, drawing on the hospital's full resources. It features access to senior specialists, multidisciplinary team consultations, multilingual support, private consultation areas, VIP wards, one-stop service pathways, and direct billing arrangements with certain international commercial insurance providers.

This milestone procedure demonstrates the hospital's capabilities in advanced functional neurosurgery and neuromodulation. International patients considering care for movement disorders such as Parkinson's should contact the hospital's International Medical Department directly to determine eligibility. Suitability depends on individual factors including disease duration, medication response, overall health status, and comprehensive preoperative assessment. No specific information on medical tourism packages or pricing for this procedure was reported.

About the hospital

The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (also known as Zhengda First Affiliated Hospital) is a public tertiary Grade A (Class 3A) comprehensive teaching hospital located in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province in Central China. Founded in 1928 and affiliated with Zhengzhou University, it operates multiple campuses including the main (Heyi/River), Zhengdong, Huiji, and South sites. It is one of China's largest hospitals, with reports indicating thousands of beds (figures cited between approximately 7,000 and 8,500 across precincts), dozens of clinical departments, and high annual volumes of outpatient visits, admissions, and surgical procedures.

The hospital maintains 24 national key clinical specialties and serves as the National Regional Medical Center for Neurological Diseases, along with several provincial medical centers. It is recognized for strengths in neurosurgery, organ transplantation (holding qualifications for six major organ types), oncology, robotic-assisted surgery, and other complex procedures. It integrates clinical care, teaching, research, and has hosted international training programs. An International Medical Department supports services for overseas patients.