The patient 1 of the first deep brain stimulation to regain the use of speech and a hand is Italian.

He is Italian, originally from Campania but for years in Umbria, Raffaele Guadagno, the patient 1 of a trial at the University of Pittsburgh, coordinated by Dr. Elvira Pirondini, which involved deep brain stimulation with the temporary introduction of an electrode in a specific area of the brain. An experience recounted at the conference «Post-stroke neurorehabilitation and neurotechnologies from research to clinic. The experience of Pittsburgh» held in Perugia.

An event promoted by Aita Umbria, during the Brain Week. To talk about aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain injuries, very common but little known by the community, but also to emphasize the importance of neurorehabilitation, research, neurotechnologies, and the human factor in patient care.

Guadagno, president of the Alice Biella association, recalled that he had suffered two strokes, the first in 2016, after which he was also in coma, the second in 2022, and that he decided to undergo the deep neurostimulation trial at the University of Pittsburgh from which he reported «significant benefits». «Three years ago I read the name Elvira Pirondini in a scientific journal - he said - I wrote her an email to which she replied immediately. They were starting this trial on monkeys, when the time came they asked me if I wanted to participate, knowing that I would be the first human being in the world. I said 'I'm here'. I did it for myself but especially because strokes keep happening and someone had to try. The trial lasted a set period, after 40 days they removed everything but they want to redo the implant permanently because the results are positive both for speech and for hand use».

Dr. Macellari, connecting from Pittsburgh, confirmed how deep brain stimulation has provided greater responses both at the motor level and at the language level.