Motor and cognitive outcomes of non-invasive transcranial alternate current stimulation by entrainment of cerebellar oscillations
Ataxia UK
University of Brescia
Transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, which is thought to modulate physiologically relevant brain oscillations by a desired frequency. Cerebellar ataxias are characterised by loss of Purkinje cells, which have been shown to oscillate in the gamma frequency band (30-80Hz) (Zhurhaj et al., Eur J Neurosci, 2005). In this study, the Dr Borroni and colleagues will evaluate whether a single 60 minute session of cerebellar tACS at gamma frequency (50Hz) is superior to cerebellar tDCS or sham treatment at improving motor and cognitive outcomes. They will perform a triple-cross over study, with all patients receiving tACS, tDCS or sham treatment in a randomized order. The researchers will use two clinical rating scales to assess the treatments: the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia (SARA) and the international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS). They will also use wearable sensors so that they can measure more subtle changes in ataxia. In particular, they will look at changes in participant’s steps and the smoothness of movements. This study will help determine whether tACS could be a more effective brain stimulation technique for ataxia for use in future trials.
6.5 Radiotherapy and other non-invasive therapies