An NHS doctor from Oxfordshire, Ed Patrick, believes he helped save his mother's life with the assistance of AI after she experienced continuous seizures. While at her bedside in a Nottinghamshire hospital in May, Mr Patrick used Google's Gemini AI tool to review recent medical journal articles.
He identified a potential link between his mother's Parkinson's medication, carbidopa-levodopa, and a vitamin B6 deficiency as a possible cause for her seizures. Medical staff then administered an intravenous dose of vitamin B6, which appeared to stop the seizures.
Dr Bruno Gran, a consultant neurologist at Nottingham University Hospitals, confirmed the rapid response to vitamin B6. He noted that only 14 similar cases have been reported globally, and his team is now working to raise awareness of this potential issue.
Parkinson's UK has welcomed the prospect of further research trials into vitamin B6 deficiency and Parkinson's, stating that findings could "transform care" for some patients. However, doctors and the charity urge caution, advising patients not to alter medication without medical advice due to potential risks from excessively high B6 doses.