Paris - Gert-Jan, a 40-year-old Dutchman who had been paralyzed in his legs for over a decade due to a spinal cord injury, has achieved a remarkable breakthrough. Through the use of two implants that restored communication between his brain and spinal cord, he can now walk effortlessly using only his thoughts. The groundbreaking development, described in a study published in the journal Nature, allows Gert-Jan to navigate various terrains, including climbing stairs, and experience a newfound sense of freedom.

The achievement is the culmination of over ten years of collaborative research conducted by teams in France and Switzerland. In a previous study, the researchers demonstrated that a spinal cord implant, which utilizes electrical pulses to stimulate leg muscles, enabled three paralyzed patients to regain the ability to walk. However, in that study, the patients had to press a button to initiate leg movement, which hindered the natural flow of walking.

Gert-Jan, who also received the spinal implant, noted the difficulty of establishing a natural walking rhythm while relying on the button. With the new system, he can now walk "naturally" and effortlessly, overcoming previous limitations and embracing a level of freedom he had longed for.

Paralyzed Man's Thought-Controlled Walking

In a groundbreaking fusion of medical advancements, researchers have combined a spinal implant with a cutting-edge technology called a brain-computer interface. This interface, implanted above the brain's leg movement control region, utilizes artificial intelligence algorithms to decode real-time brain recordings. The innovative system, developed by researchers at France's Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), effectively determines the patient's intended leg movements at any given moment.

To facilitate seamless communication, the interface transmits the decoded data to the spinal cord implant via a portable device that can be conveniently carried in a walker or small backpack. This remarkable integration allows patients like Gert-Jan, who suffered a spinal cord injury during an accident, to regain independent mobility without relying on external assistance.

The combination of these two implants forms what the researchers refer to as a "digital bridge," effectively bridging the gap between the spinal cord and the brain, which was disrupted due to Gert-Jan's accident. With the enhanced system in place, Gert-Jan expressed his newfound freedom, stating, "Now I can just do what I want - when I decide to make a step, the stimulation will kick in as soon as I think about it."

The successful convergence of the spinal implant and the brain-computer interface represents a significant leap forward in enabling thought-controlled walking for paralyzed individuals, offering hope for improved quality of life and greater autonomy.

During a press conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, the individual who underwent two invasive surgeries to receive both implants reflected on the challenging journey that led them to this point.

One notable change they experienced is the ability to once again stand at a bar with friends and enjoy a beer. They emphasized that this seemingly simple pleasure represents a significant and transformative change in their life, as expressed in their statement.

Gregoire Courtine, a study co-author and neuroscientist at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, described the achievement as "radically different" from previous accomplishments. Unlike previous patients who required significant effort to walk, now the individual only needs to think about walking to initiate a step.

Furthermore, after six months of training, the patient, Gert-Jan, regained some sensory perception and motor skills that had been lost since the accident. Remarkably, he even managed to walk with crutches when the "digital bridge" was turned off.

Guillaume Charvet, a researcher at France's CEA, noted that this recovery indicates that establishing a connection between the brain and spinal cord may promote the reorganization of neuronal networks at the site of the injury. This finding holds promise for future applications, not only for paralyzed individuals but also for conditions such as stroke-induced paralysis.

While Charvet cautioned that it will take "many more years of research" before the technology becomes available to paralyzed individuals worldwide, the team is already preparing a trial to investigate the potential of this technology in restoring function in the arms and hands. Their aspirations extend beyond walking, aiming to address a wider range of mobility challenges and related conditions.