Spinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is a very rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder caused by a mutation in ELOV5 gene, specifically expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells, encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of fatty acids. The present study aimed to assess the effect of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered employing deltoid (CD-tDCS) and spinal (CS-tDCS) cathodal montage. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline (T0), after 15 sessions of tDCS (T1) and after one month of follow-up (T2).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
7
Anodal stimulation was delivered by a battery-driven stimulator (Neuroelectrics, Barcellona, Spain) through a pair of saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes (7 x 5 cm2) producing a constant current of 2 mA for 20 min. The anode was placed 2 cm under the inion and the cathode was placed over the right deltoid muscle (CD-tDCS) or the spinal lumbar enlargement (2 cm under T11) as described by Benussi et al. (CS-tDCS). An electroconductive gel was applied to the electrodes to reduce contact impedance and the electrodes were held in place using elastic gauzes.
Laboratorio di Biomeccanica ed Ergonomia industriale - Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Time frame: Baseline, change after 3 weeks, change after 3 months
Robertson dysarthria profile
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Time frame: Baseline, change after 3 weeks, change after 3 months
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Time frame: Baseline, change after 3 weeks, change after 3 months
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Time frame: Baseline, change after 3 weeks, change after 3 months
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Time frame: Baseline, change after 3 weeks, change after 3 months
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