Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation in Cerebellar Disorders

Title:Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation in Cerebellar Disorders

Volume: 17 Issue: 3

Author(s): Chiara Di Nuzzo, Fabiana Ruggiero, Francesca Cortese, Ilaria Cova, Alberto Priori and Roberta Ferrucci*

Affiliation:

• "Aldo Ravelli" Center for Neurotechnology and Experimental Brain Therapeutics, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan Medical School, Milan,Italy

Keywords: Cerebellar Ataxia, children ataxic cerebral palsy, clinical treatment, Essential tremor, neuromodulation, noninvasive brain stimulation, non-invasive cerebellar stimulation, tACS, tDCS, TMS.

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.

Cite this article as:

Di Nuzzo Chiara, Ruggiero Fabiana, Cortese Francesca, Cova Ilaria, Priori Alberto and Ferrucci Roberta*, Non-invasive Cerebellar Stimulation in Cerebellar Disorders, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2018; 17 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871527317666180404113444