Patient story: How ‘brain pacemaker’ saved conductor’s career
A music conductor in the US has returned to the podium after receiving innovative brain technology that controls his Parkinson’s tremors, allowing him to lead his symphony with renewed confidence.
Rand Laycock*, 70, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease shortly before turning 60 after seeking medical advice for thumb twitching. The retired music teacher has guided his symphony orchestra, in Ohio, through four decades of performances.
The treatment was carried out at Cleveland Clinic, where specialists implanted a responsive neural device to regulate abnormal brain signals.
“When I was diagnosed 11 years ago, my doctor at the time told me this wasn’t a death sentence, and there would be advancements over the next few years to help with my treatment. And here I am today with adaptive deep brain stimulation – something we didn’t even know about at the time,” says Laycock.
Laycock initially managed his condition with medication, but his symptoms worsened over time, increasingly disrupting his ability to conduct.
“About eight years in, I started experiencing more tremor in my right hand. This was daily and seemed to get worse if I was anxious or nervous. The tremor would really start to be pronounced if I had a deadline coming up for something with the orchestra,” says Laycock, who also developed dyskinesias—uncontrolled movements caused by long-term use of Parkinson’s drugs.
When medications were no longer effective, Laycock considered deep brain stimulation (DBS) with the help of Cleveland Clinic neurologist Michal Gostkowski. The procedure works like a cardiac pacemaker but targets areas of the brain responsible for movement to disrupt abnormal activity.
In May 2024, neurologist and neurosurgeon Sean Nagel performed the surgery, placing the stimulation device and power source. After about a year with standard DBS, Laycock switched to the more advanced adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) in March 2025.
“Traditional DBS gives the same stimulation to the brain 24 hours a day. What makes aDBS different is it can adapt and fine tune the stimulation in real time. By tracking a certain frequency in the brain, it can increase or decrease the stimulation as needed to better control symptoms,” says Gostkowski.
The technology has been especially useful for Laycock, whose symptoms vary with his daily activities. The system automatically adjusts the stimulation intensity based on medication effectiveness.
Device programmer Erica Hennigs explains: “Since Rand’s a music conductor, fine tuning with aDBS would reduce the risk of him experiencing tremors if his medication were to wear off in the middle of a concert or performance.”
The treatment has significantly improved Laycock’s quality of life as he nears his 47th year as a conductor.
“My tremor is almost all gone, except if I experience extreme anxiety or stress – and my dyskinesia is pretty well under control. My symptoms are minimal compared to the way they were, and a lot of that is due to the adaptive deep brain stimulation,” he says.
Laycock and his medical team hope to raise awareness of the procedure.
“We still find patients and even neurologists who don’t know about DBS. If you have Parkinson’s, it’s worth talking to your doctor about whether DBS or aDBS could help manage your symptoms. These treatments work well and can improve your quality of life,” says Gostkowski.
Laycock adds, “I know the thought of brain surgery can be intimidating, but it’s a life-changing procedure that allows you to become your own self again.”
See a short video on Laycock’s story here
*Pictured above, photo courtesy of Cleveland Clinic
