Wrist device from Nottingham eases Tourette tics for teen

A wrist device developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham is helping some people with Tourette syndrome control their tics within seconds of switching it on, according to a video report from BBC News. Users and researchers describe the effect as "life-changing."

How does the wrist device work?

The device delivers electrical pulses to the median nerve, which runs through the wrist, the BBC reports. Researchers at the University of Nottingham say trials have shown the pulses change activity in the parts of the brain that control movement. That shift in brain activity is what appears to calm the tics associated with Tourette syndrome, according to the report.

The device is small enough to wear on the wrist, similar to a watch, and can be switched on by the user when tics start or worsen.

Who is the teenager in the BBC report?

Ollie, 15, from Cheshire, is one of the people shown using the device in the BBC video. He began experiencing involuntary neck movements nearly two years ago, the report says. The BBC's Navtej Johal, who produced the report, shows Ollie turning the device on and describes the moment as "life-changing."

No further personal or medical details about Ollie were provided in the source material.

What is Tourette syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition, according to the BBC report. Symptoms usually start in childhood and can include involuntary movements or sounds known as tics. The condition affects people differently, and severity can change over time, but the report does not provide prevalence figures or additional clinical detail beyond that description.

Tics and Timeline

• Ollie's tics: involuntary neck movements starting nearly two years before the report aired.
• Ollie's age: 15 years old, from Cheshire.

Those are the two figures confirmed in the BBC report; no clinical trial size, success rate, or cost figures were given.

Where was the device developed?

The device was developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham, according to the BBC report. The report does not name individual scientists, state a current availability date, or specify whether the device has received regulatory approval for wider use. It also does not say whether the device is currently sold or distributed to patients outside of research trials.

What happens next for patients and researchers?

The BBC report does not detail next steps for regulatory approval, expanded trials, or public availability. It frames the device as part of ongoing Nottingham-based research into treatments for Tourette syndrome, built around the idea that stimulating the median nerve at the wrist can alter brain activity tied to movement control.

Families looking for more detail on the device, including trial design or how to take part in future research, were not given a contact point in the BBC segment. Readers should watch the original BBC video report for the full account, including footage of Ollie turning on the device.