An Ohio music conductor is experiencing a remarkable improvement in his Parkinson’s disease symptoms after undergoing adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) therapy. Rand Laycock, 70, who serves as the director and conductor of a symphony orchestra, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s just before his 60th birthday.
Following years of treatment with medications, his symptoms worsened over time, including severe tremors and dyskinesias. After exploring alternative treatments, Laycock was introduced to DBS by Dr. Michal Gostkowski, a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic. He began with standard DBS in May 2024, which delivered continuous electrical stimulation to his brain, and later transitioned to aDBS in March 2025. This advanced form of DBS adapts in real-time to the patient’s brain activity, adjusting the stimulation frequency as needed to better manage symptoms.
Laycock’s tremors are now almost entirely gone, and his dyskinesia is under control, allowing him to continue his musical career and enjoy time with his family. Gostkowski encourages Parkinson’s patients to discuss DBS or aDBS as treatment options with their doctors, emphasizing the potential for improved quality of life.