TITLE
Long Term Clinical and Neurophysiological Effects of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Patients with Neurodegenerative Ataxia
AUTHORS
Benussi A; Dell’Era V; Cotelli MS; Turla M; Casali C; Padovani A; Borroni B. Institution Benussi, Alberto. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Dell’Era, Valentina. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Cotelli, Maria Sofia. Neurology Unit, Valle Camonica Hospital, Esine, Brescia, Italy. Turla, Marinella. Neurology Unit, Valle Camonica Hospital, Esine, Brescia, Italy. Casali, Carlo. Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy. Padovani, Alessandro. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. Borroni, Barbara. Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
ELECTRONIC ADDRESS
bborroni@inwind.it
SOURCE
Brain Stimulation. 10(2):242-250, 2017 Mar – Apr.
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 A© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved/
