Rehabilitative Trial With Cerebello-Spinal tDCS in Neurodegenerative Ataxia

Summary

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. In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, the investigators will evaluate whether a two-weeks' treatment with cerebellar anodal tDCS and spinal cathodal tDCS can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative cerebellar ataxia and can modulate cerebello-motor connectivity, at short and long term.

Conditions

• Ataxia, Cerebellar
• Cerebellar Ataxia
• Spinocerebellar Ataxias
• Ataxia, Spinocerebellar
• Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 1
• Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2
• Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3
• Spinocerebellar Degenerations
• Friedreich Ataxia
• Ataxia With Oculomotor Apraxia
• Multiple System Atrophy

Interventions

DEVICE

Anodal cerebellar and cathodal spinal tDCS

10 sessions of anodal cerebellar and cathodal spinal transcranial direct current stimulation (5 days/week for 2 weeks)

DEVICE

Sham cerebellar and sham spinal tDCS

10 sessions of sham cerebellar and sham spinal transcranial direct current stimulation (5 days/week for 2 weeks)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Barbara Borroni, MD · Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, Brescia

• Alberto Benussi, MD · Università degli Studi di Brescia

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2017-02-06

Primary Completion

2018-12-01

Completion

2018-12-01

Countries

• Italy

Study Locations