Title:Noninvasive Cerebellar Stimulation as a Complement Tool to Pharmacotherapy
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Author(s): Roberta Ferrucci*, Tommaso Bocci, Francesca Cortese, Fabiana Ruggiero and Alberto Priori
Affiliation:
- Ca' Granda IRCCS Foundation Hospital, Milan,Italy
Keywords:
tDCS, cerebellar tDCS, cerebellar TMS, ataxia, non invasive neuromodulation, cerebellum.
Abstract: Background: Cerebellar ataxias represent a wide and heterogeneous group of diseases
characterized by balance and coordination disturbance, dysarthria, dyssynergia and adyadococinesia,
caused by a dysfunction in the cerebellum. In recent years there has been growing interest in
discovering therapeutical strategy for specific forms of cerebellar ataxia. Together with pharmacological
studies, there has been growing interest in non-invasive cerebellar stimulation techniques to
improve ataxia and limb coordination. Both transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial
direct current stimulation (tDCS) are non-invasive techniques to modulate cerebro and cerebellar
cortex excitability using magnetic or electric fields.
Methods: Here we aim to review the most relevant studies regarding the application of TMS and
tDCS for the treatment of cerebellar ataxia.
Conclusion: As pharmacological strategies were shown to be effective in specific forms of cerebellar
ataxia and are not devoid of collateral effects, non-invasive stimulation may represent a promising
strategy to improve residual cerebellar circuits functioning and a complement tool to pharmacotherapy.