Di Nuzzo C, Ruggiero F, Cortese F, Cova I, Priori A, Ferrucci R. Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation in Cerebellar Disorders.
CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2019;
17:193-198. [PMID:
29623859 DOI:
10.2174/1871527317666180404113444]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) might be a valuable therapeutic approach for neurological diseases by modifying the cortical activity in the human brain and promoting neural plasticity. Currently, researchers are exploring the use of NIBS on the cerebellum to promote functional neural changes in cerebellar disorders. In the presence of cerebellar dysfunction, several movement disorders, such as kinetic tremor, ataxia of gait, limb dysmetria and oculomotor deficits, become progressively more disabling in daily life, and no pharmacological treatments currently exist.
CONCLUSION
In the present mini-review, we report the main evidence concerning the use of NIBS in three specific cerebellar dysfunctions, cerebellar ataxias (CA), essential tremor (ET) and ataxic cerebral palsy, in which abnormalities of neuroplasticity and cortical excitability can be important pathophysiological factors.
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