AI-assisted search helped doctor identify possible cause of mother’s seizures

Ed Patrick, an anaesthetist, said his mother Ann was unconscious and having continuous seizures in a Nottinghamshire hospital in May. She has Parkinson’s and had been taking carbidopa/levodopa for years. Patrick used Google’s Gemini to summarise medical papers, then raised the possibility of a vitamin B6 deficiency with her consultant neurologist. He suspected her Parkinson’s medication might have contributed to it. [1]

Hospital staff gave Ann intravenous vitamin B6. Dr Bruno Gran, the consultant neurologist, told the BBC that her seizure activity stopped within minutes. Patrick said she has had no seizures since. [1]

The potential drug risk was recognised before Ann’s admission. In March, the US Food and Drug Administration required warnings that carbidopa/levodopa can cause vitamin B6 deficiency and associated seizures. Its safety review identified 14 cases, all involving daily levodopa doses above 1,000mg. The agency recommends checking B6 levels before treatment and periodically afterwards, with supplementation when needed. [2]

Patrick said Ann’s day-to-day thinking has also improved dramatically since her recovery. He hopes her case will prompt research into whether B6 could help other people with Parkinson’s. Gran said his team was changing its practice to raise awareness of the potential problem. [1]