Parkinson’s sufferers have been fitted with an implant that allows drugs to be sent directly into the brain.

They showed signs of improvement after a protein was delivered with “pinpoint accuracy” into damaged sections. The findings were published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease.

Experts hope the device can also be used to treat other degenerative conditions.

Some 41 Parkinson’s patients had ops to have four tubes placed in their heads with openings behind their ears.

Half had monthly infusions of the naturally occurring protein GDNF, with placebos for the rest in the Parkinson’s UK-funded study.

Brain scans from the protein group revealed damaged cells had regenerated after nine months, with no change for the others.

Dr. Alan Whone said it was “beyond anything seen previously” in other drug trials. Steven Gill, who designed the implant, said it could also be used to administer chemo for brain tumor patients.

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