AI-assisted discovery in Parkinson’s emergency prompts calls for further research

An NHS doctor whose mother recovered from life-threatening seizures after he used artificial intelligence to search medical research hopes her case could improve care for other people with Parkinson’s.

Ed Patrick, an anaesthetist from Oxfordshire, was called to a Nottinghamshire hospital in May after being told that his mother, Ann, was close to death. She had experienced months of deterioration before developing continuous seizures that had not responded to conventional anti-seizure medicines. She was unconscious and her kidneys were beginning to fail.

Patrick used Google’s Gemini AI tool to summarise recent medical literature relating to her symptoms and treatment. The search highlighted vitamin B6 deficiency as a possible cause of seizures in people taking carbidopa-levodopa, a commonly prescribed Parkinson’s medicine.

He presented the information to Ann’s neurology consultant, and clinicians agreed to administer vitamin B6 intravenously. Her seizure activity stopped within minutes and has not returned, according to her family and medical team.

Dr Bruno Gran, a consultant neurologist at Nottingham University Hospitals, said Patrick’s medical knowledge meant his clinical reasoning was sound. However, he said the speed and scale of Ann’s response had not been anticipated.

Ann has since recovered from the seizures, while her family has also reported a marked improvement in the cognitive symptoms associated with her Parkinson’s. Her medical team is working to increase awareness of the potential complication, although only 14 similar cases have reportedly been documented.

The case has prompted calls for research into the relationship between Parkinson’s medicines, vitamin B6 levels and neurological complications. Dr Graham Johnson, an emergency medicine consultant involved in discussions about the case, said individual patient experiences could provide the starting point for wider studies and clinical trials.

Parkinson’s UK welcomed the prospect of further research, saying a better understanding of the connection could potentially improve care. However, the charity and medical specialists have strongly warned patients not to alter their medication or begin taking supplements without professional advice.

High doses of vitamin B6 can themselves cause health problems. Anyone concerned about a possible deficiency should speak to their medical team, which may recommend a blood test before considering supplementation.

The case illustrates how AI may help clinicians navigate large volumes of medical literature, particularly when dealing with rare complications. It does not, however, establish vitamin B6 as a treatment for Parkinson’s or replace the need for clinical assessment and properly controlled research.

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