Category: Ataxia
Objective: A pilot study to determine the effectiveness of a combination of transcranial pulsed current stimulation and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation as a novel therapeutic approach for Ataxia patients.
Background: Gait dysfunction is a disabling issue that remains to be unresolved in movement disorder patients such as cerebellar ataxia. Neuromodulation of the excitability of the cerebello-thalamo-corticol pathway by acting on the cerebellar cortex to restore the CBI has been suggested to be a suitable therapeutic intervention. Many studies have been done with various neuromodulation modals but this is the first to evaluate the effects of a combination therapy in ataxia patients.
Method: An open label study with a novel combination treatment of tPCS and pulsed current peripheral stimulation in 3 patients with neurodegenerative ataxia was conducted in Singapore. Each patient underwent clinical evaluations (motor, non-motor and cognitive assessments) before and after the treatment. Follow up evaluations were also conducted to determine the long term effects of the treatment at 1-month and 2-months post treatment. Treatment consisted of 30 minutes of concurrent tPCS and pulsed current peripheral stimulation for 20 sessions.
Results: Combination tPCS and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation showed a significant improvement in their motor scores (SARA, p<0.05 and Berg Balance scale, p<0.05) and effects lasted up to 2-months post treatment. No significant changes were observed in their fine motor assessment (Purdue Peg Board, p>0.05) and gait assessment (7m Timed Up and Go, p>0.05). Immediately after treatment, patients also showed a significant improvement in their overall emotional state (Depression Anxiety and Stress scale, p<0.05). Quality of life showed no significant changes (SF-36v2, p>0.05) but patients showed improvements in different areas such as physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health. Cognitive function of patients also remained relatively the same after treatment.
Conclusion: We demonstrated that a combination treatment of tPCS and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation is safe and improved mobility and balance in ataxia patients, with some effects lasting up to 2 months after treatment. The stimulation also led to an improvement of patient’s mood and their daily life. Future studies will be needed to assess its long term efficacy.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
D. Heng, C. Chen, X. Choi, E. Lim, G. Chia, W. Li, K. Narasimhalu, P. Kumar, Y. Lo, E. Tan. Effectiveness of non-invasive therapy of tPCS & peripheral nerve stimulation on Ataxia patients [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-non-invasive-therapy-of-tpcs-peripheral-nerve-stimulation-on-ataxia-patients/. Accessed December 1, 2024.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-non-invasive-therapy-of-tpcs-peripheral-nerve-stimulation-on-ataxia-patients/