Incredible footage of Parkinson’s patient struggling to make cup of tea shows transformative effect of groundbreaking drug

Incredible footage shows how one man’s life has been transformed by a groundbreaking new drug that treats the debilitating tremors of Parkinson’s disease.

The clip, which the NHS shared on Instagram, shows the stunning difference in the 52-year-old’s ability to make a cup of tea before and after taking the medication.

The first half of the clip shows the patient, Damien Gath, shaking violently and having spasms as he walks to the sink and pours water from the kettle into a cup.

But the second half of the video, recorded several days after the treatment began, shows him performing the task without any vibrations whatsoever.

The key to this incredible transformation lies in the black rectangular device that Mr Gath wears: a portable pump that slowly releases a drug called foslevodopa-foscarbidopa (or Produodopa), which has recently been approved by NHS directors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

It causes more dopamine to be produced in the brain, a hormone involved in movement and mood.

In Parkinson’s disease, which affects 145,000 Britons, brain cells responsible for producing the hormone die, causing a deficiency.

Although other medications are now available, patients with serious illness often have to take a mixture of several pills to feel relief. Many find that their symptoms worsen in the evening, once the medication has worn off.

The Produodopa infusion provides a constant flow of the drug, all day and night. It enters the patient’s bloodstream through a cannula under the skin, which is controlled by a small, automatic pump.

Mr Gath was one of the first patients at NHS Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust to receive a drug he says is changing lives, which costs the NHS £31,000 per person per year.

“It’s extraordinary and life-changing. The big difference is that there are no fluctuations anymore,” said Mr Gath, who was first diagnosed 12 years ago.

‘Soon after the treatment I could make a cup of coffee and go to the supermarket more easily. I also sleep much better now.’

Damien’s wife Amanda, who filmed the clips, added: ‘Sometimes it was hard to deal with the lack of understanding from people around you and that’s why I was very protective of Damien.

‘Now we are just like any other couple enjoying ourselves.’

Parkinson’s disease is a disease in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over the years.

This causes people to experience tremors and stiff, inflexible movements, which can ultimately take away their independence.

Patients may also experience other problems as a result of their illness, such as depression and anxiety.

What causes the brain changes that lead to Parkinson’s disease is unknown. There are treatments available, but no cure.

Symptoms can include uncontrollable tremors, slow movements and muscle stiffness, but experts say they often don’t occur until about 80 percent of the nerve cells have been lost.

Patients can also respond differently to treatments: for some, medications provide a solution, while for others they do not work.

Mr Gath’s condition has deteriorated recently and he has to take four medications six times a day to control his involuntary movements.

But these had varying success and he was particularly bothered by them at night, when the dosage began to wear off.

But thanks to the new portable pump, he now rests much better, he says.

“The big difference is that there are no fluctuations anymore,” he said.

‘I also sleep much better and the duvet doesn’t feel like a heavy burden on my legs. I can turn over whenever I want.’