A SMART watch-like device tested by singer Lewis Capaldi has been found to reduce tics in people with Tourette syndrome.
The pop star, 26, took part in a scientific trial after revealing in September that he has the disorder.
SplashLewis Capaldi took part in a scientific trial after revealing in September that he has Tourette syndrome[/caption]
The device stimulates the median nerve — which controls motor functions in the forearm, wrist and hand.
Participants used the Neupulse, which is worn on the wrist, for 15 minutes at a similar time each day for a month — and gave feedback.
The trial of 121 people in the UK found that, on average, they experienced a 25 per cent reduction in the frequency of tics.
Scot Lewis — whose hits include Someone You Loved and Forget Me — was said to have been impressed by the trial, run by the University of Nottingham.
Tourette syndrome is a condition of the nervous system.
It leads to tics — sudden twitches movements or sounds which people do repeatedly and cannot stop.
The university’s Professor Stephen Jackson said: “This device has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of those with Tourette syndrome, who often face challenges managing their tics.”
Neurotherapeutics Ltd, which developed the Neupulse, has secured £1million in additional funding to commercialise it — with the aim of having it and an accompanying app available within three years.