Alberto Benussi1, Valentina Dell'Era1, Maria Sofia Cotelli2, Marinella Turla2, Carlo Casali3, Alessandro Padovani1, Barbara Borroni4. 1. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 2. Neurology Unit, Valle Camonica Hospital, Esine, Brescia, Italy. 3. Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. 4. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: bborroni@inwind.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias represent a group of disabling disorders for which we currently lack effective therapies. Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique, which has been demonstrated to modulate cerebellar excitability and improve symptoms in patients with cerebellar ataxias. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated whether a two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS could improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and could modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, randomized, sham controlled trial with cerebellar tDCS (5 days/week for 2 weeks) in twenty patients with ataxia. Each patient underwent a clinical evaluation pre- and post-anodal tDCS or sham stimulation. A follow-up evaluation was performed at one and three months. Cerebello-motor connectivity was evaluated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS: Patients who underwent anodal tDCS showed a significant improvement in all performance scores (scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia, international cooperative ataxia rating scale, 9-hole peg test, 8-m walking time) and in cerebellar brain inhibition compared to patients who underwent sham stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: A two-weeks' treatment with anodal cerebellar tDCS improves symptoms in patients with ataxia and restores physiological cerebellar brain inhibition pathways. Cerebellar tDCS might represent a promising future therapeutic and rehabilitative approach in patients with neurodegenerative ataxia. Copyright Â
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxias represent a group of disabling disorders for which we currently lack effective therapies. Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique, which has been demonstrated to modulate cerebellar excitability and improve symptoms in patients with cerebellar ataxias. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated whether a two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS could improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and could modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, randomized, sham controlled trial with cerebellar tDCS (5 days/week for 2 weeks) in twenty patients with ataxia. Each patient underwent a clinical evaluation pre- and post-anodal tDCS or sham stimulation. A follow-up evaluation was performed at one and three months. Cerebello-motor connectivity was evaluated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at baseline and at follow-up. RESULTS:Patients who underwent anodal tDCS showed a significant improvement in all performance scores (scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia, international cooperative ataxia rating scale, 9-hole peg test, 8-m walking time) and in cerebellar brain inhibition compared to patients who underwent sham stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: A two-weeks' treatment with anodal cerebellar tDCS improves symptoms in patients with ataxia and restores physiological cerebellar brain inhibition pathways. Cerebellar tDCS might represent a promising future therapeutic and rehabilitative approach in patients with neurodegenerative ataxia. Copyright Â
Authors: Martin Bareš; Richard Apps; Laura Avanzino; Assaf Breska; Egidio D'Angelo; Pavel Filip; Marcus Gerwig; Richard B Ivry; Charlotte L Lawrenson; Elan D Louis; Nicholas A Lusk; Mario Manto; Warren H Meck; Hiroshi Mitoma; Elijah A Petter Journal: Cerebellum Date: 2019-04 Impact factor: 3.847