For 70-year-old, Ohio-based conductor Rand Laycock, being able to control his arm and hand movements is crucial when guiding dozens of musicians in Parma Symphony Orchestra. But 11 years ago, just before his 60th birthday, Rand began to notice a twitch in his thumb, sparking concerns that something was wrong. He went to his doctor for advice, and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Rand’s tremors soon became uncontrollable, making his once-precise movements increasingly difficult. Medications alone couldn’t stop the shaking, and he feared that his ability to conduct would be lost. But then he discovered deep brain stimulation (DBS), a promising treatment offered by Dr. Michal Gostkowski, a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic.
DBS works just like a pacemaker—but for the brain. A small device is implanted to send targeted electrical impulses to areas responsible for movement, helping to regulate the irregular brain activity that leads to Parkinson’s symptoms. “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,” recalls Rand. “And here I am today with adaptive deep brain stimulation—something we didn’t even know about at the time.”
Rand went ahead with the DBS procedure in May 2024, and noticed immediate improvements to his condition. His surgery was performed by neurologist and neurosurgeon Sean Nagel, and programmer Erica Hennigs helped Rand set up his device. She explains, “When it comes to programming the device, we try different settings at first. We then adjust those during follow-up visits as we learn more about how his symptoms are being controlled.”
After around a year, Rand learned about a new advancement called adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS). “Traditional DBS gives the same stimulation to the brain 24 hours a day. Dr. Gostkowski explains, “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.”
Since Rand’s movements changed throughout the day, he was a good fit for the adaptive DBS (aDBS). It can adjust automatically—boosting stimulation when his medication wears off to prevent tremors, and lowering it when the medication is working to reduce side effects like unwanted movements. 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.” Rand was also keen to test out the new technology, saying, “It sounded like it would make my life simpler–not having to worry about adjusting my device settings and medications as frequently.”
Rand has been using aDBS since March 2025, and his symptoms continue to improve. “My tremor is almost all gone, except if I experience extreme anxiety or stress—and my dyskinesia is pretty well under control.” he says. “My symptoms are minimal compared to the way they were, and a lot of that is due to the adaptive deep brain stimulation.”
Rand is now looking forward to his 47th year of conducting and cherishing time with his wife, two kids, and granddaughter. He also hopes that by sharing his story, more people will learn how DBS and aDBS can make a real difference for others living with Parkinson’s. He 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.”
Check out a video of Rand receiving treatment above.
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Source: Music Conductor Sees Parkinson’s Symptoms Improve With Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation
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